I Choose You

By Andrea Merrell

And he chose us to be his very own, joining us to himself

even before he laid the foundation of the universe!

Ephesians 1:4 TPT

 

There’s nothing more humiliating for a young person than not being picked. The last person standing ends up on one team or the other simply by default.

Since I’ve never been very athletic—plus having asthma as a child—I faced this scenario often in school. No one wanted me on their team. Even though it wasn’t personal, it still hurt to be considered the weak link. I desperately wanted to hear the words, “I choose you.”

Unfortunately, this stigma tends to follow us into adulthood. We might not get the promotion we’ve worked so hard for or the dream job we’ve always wanted. Maybe the relationship we thought was perfect failed because the other person picked someone else. Maybe we lost the contract to someone more qualified. The Enemy will use every opportunity to make us feel rejected or “less than.”

The good news is God has different criteria. He doesn’t look for the most qualified. He doesn’t enlist the smartest, best looking, or most athletic among us. He’s more concerned with what’s in our heart.

Jesus said, You didn’t choose me, but I’ve chosen and commissioned you to go into the world to bear fruit (John 15:16 TPT). It’s a done deal.

God’s message for you today is, “I choose you!”

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

TWEETABLE

God doesn’t enlist the most qualified, smartest, best looking, or most athletic. He’s more concerned about what’s in our heart. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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I Choose You

By Andrea Merrell

 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ,

we have received an inheritance from God,

for he chose us in advance,

and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

Ephesians 1:11 NLT

There’s nothing worse than being picked last for a team.

Never very athletic, I remember many times in school when I would be the last person standing, waiting to see whose team I would be on purely by default. I always wondered how the first person picked felt when the team captain said, “I choose you.”

Everyone wants to feel valuable. We want to be picked for the team, trusted with delegated responsibility, and validated for what we bring to the table. We long to be first. To make it to the top. To be successful.

But in reality, what is the praise and applause of man? It’s shallow, temporary, and fickle.

The good news is God knew us before we were ever conceived. He chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

When the applause and approval of man fades away, God still sees us as valuable, special, unique, and of great worth. He proved this once and for all by sending His Son to pay the price for all of our wrongs.

Don’t ever be discouraged when man passes you by. Regardless of your abilities or attributes, God says, “I choose you!”

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and cooldesign.) 

TWEETABLE

Don’t ever be discouraged when man passes you by. Regardless of your abilities or attributes, God says, “I choose you!” via@AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

When the applause of man fades away, God still sees us as valuable. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

To read in browser or leave a comment, click here.