You have been Chosen
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set berfore you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.
Joshua 24;15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Isaiah 41:9-10 You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 6:37, 44 All the the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. . . . No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
John 15: 16, 19 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. . . . If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of HIs Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren. More over whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Ephesians 1:4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
I always believed I had chosen God. I didn’t realize I had received an invitation–nothing in the mail with an RSVP, no whisper or voice calling me forward that Sunday morning in April of 1973. There was just a compulsion to get up and go forward. For those who know me, they know this is NOT my normal behavior. I earned the name of wall-flower by staying in the back of the crowd, and unless comfortable, find it difficult to initiate anything that might put the spot light on me. Always I have gotten nervous with new people–which cheats me, and as I have learned over the years, also cheats them. Until recently I have not known that; but have been assured that my opinion matters, I share humor and lighten things up — but I cannot do this with folks I don’t know well. This is an area I discuss with God, it is certainly not Christ-like to not reach out in kindness, friendliness, and acting like a wall-flower comes out like a snob. YIKES!
One of the other reasons, I began reaching out was that in one of the Bible App’s devotionals I was studying it specifically said, “Shyness is a quality of being selfish.” My immediate, and still occasional thought to this is, “do you realize how difficult it can be for me to reach out? What if I am judged and found severely wanting?” (Ugh, yeah, I think this sounds like selfish It’s a struggle, but I know I have moved forward–I am not confident, still quiet, still prefer being the observer, but I try, and must admit that 98% of the time, get a receptive response back–frequently with a smile and nice comment. “Well, thank You, God, again it was a success.”
So years ago on that Sunday morning, my fiancé at the time and his family were astonished to see me get up to move forward. So was I. And had all sorts of whispers (all Satanic) of ‘You can’t go up there in front of all those people. And it’s bad enough they have all seen you start to get up, but you are at the back of the church, so not everyone has seen you. That is an ugly outfit you have on, and you look so fat, and your curly hair is ridiculous–so long and unruly… ‘ I did consider turning and sitting back down–but then everyone would see that and judge that too. Besides–compulsion. It didn’t feel as though I could do anything but go forward.
There was such a feeling of acceptance and love–and I was very accustomed to being loved. My parents showed love to the three of us all the time. There was no question in our minds of that. I was the oldest–not PERFECT BY ANY MEANS . But certainly knew I was loved, respected in my neighborhood–babysat for multiple families, did well in school, had good friendships, mostly in the neighborhood, but a couple of close friends in school. There was never a reason I could find for the shyness and hesitation to put myself out there and be noticed. But that morning was a different, deeper feeling than I had with my parents, grandparents and other family. I should have had confidence and self-assurance. Yet, God’s urging gave me the confidence and the love was overwhelming. A new birth.
I can recognize I have grown. The nerves and anxieties still well up, and I can still look about and admire the confidence and self-assurance I see in others. I recognize we all have our strengths; and I do have them, but confidence in front of a group is not one of them. But I do know God chose me for a reason and a purpose–maybe just to be a background worker–LOL, my comfort zone. But, part of my calling and reason to pass Your message to those who do not know You.
My family and non-believing friends know that my church is family and very important to me. But it still leaves me with siblings who truly believe they alone are responsible for their success and failures, and they have disgusted opinions when they recount much of the OT — all the killing that the Jews did trying to get to the Promised Land. When I was first challenged with this, the OT was a definite mystery to me also. So, I couldn’t answer properly–much to my regret. I, too, was at that time, overwhelmed by the war and annihilation of many peoples that God encouraged the Jews to wipe out. My knowledge had not gotten to the fact that these people were sinners–worshiping other gods, many of which “demanded” they sacrifice their own children. And, that remains where they are stuck–no matter how much I share or the knowledge and understanding I have gained over the years. I know God has patience, love, kindness, gentleness, and mercy toward His children–us–who are wicked sinners. LOL, and probably because my siblings know all those ratty, bratty, miserable things I did as a child–they do not get the changes. And maybe do not believe them. But I have seen the two siblings roll their eyes when I try to tell them of His salvation and release and peace. I actually have a magnet on my fridge which reads “Did I just roll my eyes out loud?” I certainly did a lot of eye rolling growing up! But recognize when they both huff out a sigh and roll their eyes.
I wonder if more people do not come to church and to kneel before Jesus because they are more concerned about “public opinion” And maybe that is still my hesitation to be at the front of the crowd. Keep me hidden, will gladly do the work assigned, but do not want the spotlight. And maybe that is them since they have so adamantly opposed giving up their belief that they are in charge.
But I pray for them all daily. I have a son and daughter in law who have worked for the government for close to twenty years and with the confusion, tensions and immediate government building closures, it has caused nerves to be on edge. My son believes, but still “is there anything I can do? I know God is there–but does He really care about me? About us?” They have a few short years, and they can retire from their government jobs. But, now they left unsure. And they are not at the place where they have put all their chips in like the poker players do on TV to believe that God is totally there for them. I hate the hesitation, but so far, they are not full in, to believe God really has them. One of my continuous prayers that will change.
Thankfully, I have the comfort of knowing that He has chosen me, and I believe He also has my family. He DOES NOT want anyone to perish–none, no one. So with me praying for their salvation, them helping with the good and kind acts to others, God’s Word promises that IF His will, prayers will be answered, and He wants a grateful and believing heart. I have all those, but my confidence wanes knowing the stubbornness of my siblings, and the fact they also have been given the gift of making a choice. Yet, it is not just me that may lead them to Jesus. I know, with no doubt that God hears my prayers, He knows I believe He is able to bring them to their knees, and He answers prayers with full belief in what we ask for. My hesitation, not 100% in is the fact He also granted us all free will….. Yes, I know it is necessary, but it makes me a tad uncertain that they will be stupid and stubborn and refuse. (Sigh)
But, Lord, my Creator, You are in charge, You have chosen–and why me with all my ICK’s–but I thank You. I have Your Word, I can grow daily in that, and I have assurance for me, and I believe that even if not in my time, my family will choose You. But thank You, Lord, for all. You have so blessed ‘me and my bellaviews.’
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