Chosen

Once there was a little girl who desperately wanted a puppy. She begged her parents for a puppy until they finally gave in. They went to a local animal shelter that had a whole litter of puppies ready for adoption. The little girl played with the puppies for an hour, then her parents told her it was time to make a decision. The girl reached down and picked up the runt of the litter. "This is the one I want!" she exclaimed. The runt had been chosen.

God has reached down and chosen you!

What God chooses is certainly different from what man would choose most of the time.

1 Corinthians 1:27-28 reads, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are." James 2:5 reads, "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?"

In the Old Testament, God told the prophet Samuel to anoint the next King of Israel from among the sons of Jesse. We can read the story in 1 Samuel 16:6-12, "And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he." God had chosen the youngest son of Jesse to rule over His people.

In the New Testament, Saul was a man that zealously persecuted the Christians. He cast them into prison and consented to their deaths. One day, on the road to Damascus, all of that changed. Saul met Jesus and became the apostle, Paul. The Lord spoke this about Paul to Ananias in Acts 9:15,"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." God had chosen a persecutor of the church to become a preacher of the Gospel!

God still has chosen people today. John 15:16 declares, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you." 1 Peter 2:9 asserts, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." Psalm 33:12 declares, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance." Mark 13:20 reads, "And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days." John 15:19 says, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." Revelation 17:14 reads, "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

When did God choose us? Ephesians 1:4 has the answer, "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."

The next time the devil comes around and tries to make you feel worthless or inferior, just remind that old liar, "I am CHOSEN by God. I am a child of God!"