I Chose…or did I?
Deuteronomy 14:2 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
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 15:16 “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.
Ephesians 1:4, 5 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
For years, I have been thankful that I chose to follow God. I raised my hand, walked forward in front of the congregation—and for those of you who know me, you realize that is not a comfortable activity. But, yes, I wanted to choose Him.
And in some ways, I thought, ‘wow, great, now I’m saved, and all’s good.’ My childhood background was in church but not a bible teaching church and it was more anxiety, nervousness and ideas of punishment.
But once I chose Him, it took years to find a right fit, bible teaching church. I so enjoyed learning how the bible actually related to me; not just some characters and the stories of their lives. That, too, took a while for me to realize that these “stories” were meant for each of us. Yes, they actually happened to Moses, Abraham, Joshua, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Peter, Paul, John, and all the others.
When I actually realized I should be studying God’s words for myself I then began reading, and not always understanding everything, but I persisted. I listened to various TV evangelists and began attending bible studies, and volunteered at the church office and was on the team to pass the collection plate, was on the count team, and other such office duties.
I still believed I had made the choice; it was me who had chosen Him. Well, since I’m still studying, it has finally penetrated my eyes and then made it into my brain that He chose me. ME!
God chose me long before my parents had their first date. Long before their parents had their first dates…..He chose me! That tidbit made a huge difference in my life. I have always been grateful He is in my life, a part of me and my decisions, and I have made a lot changes, for the better, but I thought this was my choice.
It has only been my choice to deepen the relationship, to learn more, to realize we can each have a personal relationship with Him, and to grow in the knowledge of His word, His direction, and His love for me.
He has chosen each of us, and waits for us to choose Him back. It saddens me when people don’t choose. There are so many excuses that people say, and it’s obvious they are excuses, lack of knowledge, how can there be a God who allows…….whatever, and what about all the killing He ordered the Israelites to do? I’ve heard bunches, some of which I don’t know the answers to, but I know He chose the Israelites, He chose Abraham, He chose Noah, Gideon, and David, Esther, Mary and so many others.
I have more answers now, certainly not all the answers, but I have more. It is easy to now to encourage people to not judge without reading some facts. The bible can be a little overwhelming at first. Many know many of the stories—Moses bringing the commandments down, Noah and the Ark, Daniel being put in the lion’s den and many others. But they don’t know of the relationship He had and wants. Many feel it is just a bunch of rules; these folks think they are in charge of their own destiny, as long as they are “good” people they will be going to heaven. Heads shake as they bemoan “all” they would have to give up, and the idea of an unseen, unknown entity making their decisions, and all they would have to change, they refuse. But they haven’t even tried to do research to see what God wants. Most do not even believe He is real, never mind alive, and wants a relationship with us.
I pray for the many in my life who are not believers. I hope that they choose to at least investigate—honestly. So as I continue to grow in my relationship with Him, and pray for those I love who are not believers, I give thanks several times a day that He chose me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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