You Are Chosen

by Tim Howard

Back in grammar school my favorite class was “Recess!’ I know now that it’s not really a class but it was always something I looked forward to. My least favorite thing during recess, however, happened whenever the teacher lined the students up, selected two Captains and had them choose teams. It was horrible! I was usually the last to be chosen and then the two Captains would fight over me. “You take him!” and the other would respond, “No you take him!” This would go on until the teacher made the final determination and assigned me to a team. What a confidence builder.

God‘s not like that! He wants to connect with you. He wants you to be on His team. He has chosen you to have an ongoing relationship. 1 Peter 2:9 says: “…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that many are called but few are chosen. Everyone is invited to have relationship but those who respond positively to the invitation are chosen to experience, develop and enjoy fellowship with God.

Paul the apostle gives a little insight into the motivation behind God’s choice. 1Cor. 1:26 - 29 “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.”

His choice of you isn’t based on your skill set, your intellect, your abilities, your position, and surely not your past. He sees your potential. His focus is on what you can be and not what you have been.

Not everyone can see potential! Sometimes it’s hidden from view. Like an automobile that loses it’s luster because of the mud that covers it - the dirt of life can cover the treasures hidden within. God, however, never loses sight of them. He isn’t surprised or shocked when the hidden treasure is revealed because He’s the one who put the potential there in the first place. When He views your life, He sees something wonderful and with delight in His voice says, you have possibilities!

God chose you in order to help you find your way back - back to the original you. He originally created you in His image but the hurts of life, the daily grind, the pressing problems and pressures of the day have hidden the real you from view.

I recently saw a restored 1957 Chevy, which was beautiful. But it‘s a million times more wonderful when you see a person restored to their original condition.

Have you ever looked at a married couple and wondered how they made a connection? Why did he marry her? Why did she marry him? From your observations you conclude that they don’t seem to fit together. Yet, they are together.

You may not be able to comprehend or understand this simple truth but one thing is certain: God could have chosen anyone, but He chose YOU!

God's View of You

by Blake Cromwell

Everyone is loved and valued by Father God. This is a bold statement when you consider how bad you and I can act at times. Yet, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.”

There is a word in the Bible that declares God’s love for man. It is the word, “Beloved.” It literally means, “One who is worthy of attention and affection.” It describes the visionary eyes of God that see the potential in every person. He sees what He can make out of the raw material of our lives if we only surrender to His will.

Not too long ago, we were throwing out old office equipment and furniture here at the church. One of the items marked for disposal was an old rickety desk with a formaica top. One of the pastors on staff began to rave about how nice the old desk was, and how it was a rare find. All I saw was an old desk, but he saw something I couldn’t see. He saw potential in what I saw as a problem.

I have to confess that I had a hard time envisioning the desk in any other state then what it was. I don’t do yard sales, go junk shopping, or buy un-restored items. In art classes I tend to stare at the blank sheet of paper and see a blank sheet of paper. In pottery class all I saw was a lump of clay while others saw pieces of art.

One of my favorite stories is about a married couple out one day for a drive. Suddenly, the husband spots a 57 Ford T-Bird sitting behind an old barn. He tracks the owner down and offers a sum of money so large his wife thinks he has lost his mind. What she sees is an old car with peeling paint, no tires, dented doors, no fenders, and broken windows that have allowed rain to ruin the inside of the vehicle. Before she can protest the two men are shaking hands and the deal has been made.

The husband hauls the wrecked and rusted car to the clean garage of their home. His wife is so frustrated, she refuses to visit the garage at all. Meanwhile, he disappears into the garage every evening like clockwork. Finally, he walks in and announces he has finished the car. She tells him, “Good, now I can have my garage back and you can get our money back!” He smiles and invites her to come and see.

As he opens the garage doors and the light shines on the new paint she is speechless at its beauty. He invites her to be the first one to drive it. She sinks down into the refinished bucket seat, places the car in reverse and takes it for a spin. She falls so deeply in love with the classic, her husband seldom gets to drive the car.

What is wonderful about this story is that the husband saw the potential of the car when no one else could. He had visionary eyes that saw beyond the rusted hulk of metal.

Many times I have felt like an old car that has been wrecked and had turned down the wrong streets. My failures threaten to paralyze me until I remember that God loves me and looks at me with visionary eyes. He calls me “beloved” and finds me worthy of attention and affection.

Last week I saw that old desk that had been rescued from a trip to the dump and barely recognized it. It had been so transformed into a thing of beauty that I offered to buy it back. The pastor wouldn’t hear of it, he loves the desk too much to let it go. He is one of those rare individuals who sees with visionary eyes.

This week in the churches in the Kings County there are Pastors who long to tell you how Beloved you are to God and how He can take your life and transform it into His masterpiece.