You Are Chosen
We're all different. We all have different personalities, different body features, different likes and dislikes. Every single person is unique and special in their own way. Everyone has different strengths and different struggles.. Regardless... Whoever you are, whether you are nerdy or sporty, tall or short, well off or just getting by, weird or normal, outgoing or shy, excited for tomorrow or just struggling to get through this day, whatever and whoever you are... you are loved, you are perfect exactly the way God made you, and you are chosen.
WE'RE ALL BORN INTO SIN When we came into this world we were born into a sinful flesh. But how amazing is it that we have someone who loves us so much that they would take the punishment for every single one of our sins? That we don't have to constantly carry the weight of guilt and shame throughout our days?
1 John 4:9-10 “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
When Jesus died on the cross our sins were forgiven. BOOM. Just like that. No matter what you do, no matter how many times you screw up, nothing, not a single thing could separate you from God's love! Is it just me or is that incredible? To know that even though we're not perfect and that we continue to mess up and fall short of the glory of God.. that He still loves us unconditionally exactly the way we are... God loves YOU. God loves the sinful, weird, unique, real you.
And you know what the best part is...?
No matter what this world has to say about you, no matter how many times you sin or you mess up, your worth NEVER changes in God's eyes. And even in this sinful flesh, God still chooses YOU to spread the Kingdom of God and to be a warrior for the Lord.
1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (NIV) In Acts 9, a story is told about a man named Saul who spoke threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsusnamed Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen vessel to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."
I want you to take a second and think about that last verse. Here is a man who has gone around persecuting believers and threatening to murder and arrest those who serve the Lord, and still, the Lord calls Ananias to heal him. When Ananias challenges why God would ask him to heal this man, the Lord says "This man is my chosen vessel!"
Isn't that amazing? That as sinners and as people who are far from perfect, that God continues to love us and continues to choose us. That even though we are so unworthy, God blesses us with the opportunity to change lives.. to spread His Kingdom.. to love on His children.
No one is worthy of God's love... but that doesn't stop Him from loving us. No one is going to measure up to the glory of God, but do not let that stop you from going out and discipling or helping people or whatever it is God has called you to do.
YOU ARE CHOSEN Regardless of who you are or what you have done in your life, you are loved and you are chosen by our mighty Lord and Savior! God has chosen YOU! Every single one of us has a calling on our lives, and just because you have messed up or you don't think you are where you need to be in your faith to proclaim His name, God has chosen you and God is calling you to walk with Him and to spread His Kingdom. God doesn't want you to come to Him or to spread His Kingdom when you are perfect! No one is perfect. It's time to stop doubting yourself and instead trusting that God has placed a calling on your life and that He wants you now! Right where you are, exactly as you are.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”
You are chosen and from the day you were born God set you apart from this world and had a plan for your life. Don't ever let fear or guilt or shame or anyone in this world make you think anything less because you are CHOSEN. And I promise you.. when you start believing that and you start trusting that.. nothing is going to stand in the way of the amazing plans God has for you.
So it's time to decide.. Are you going to let fear and doubt hold you back from the glory that God has planned for you, or are you going to boldly walk out into the destiny that God has set before you?
