|
Ask, and it shall be given to you;
seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. Matt.
7:7
|
"I
CHOSE YOU"
as published in Toms River Church of Christ bulletin
Many of us remember when as
children we got together on the playground or ball field. There may have
been a captain assigned for each team who chose his players. This was a
time of excitement and anticipation as the teams were organized. Did you
ever think, "I hope I'm not the last one chosen." Some how being told that
the other team could have you did little for your self-esteem.
I Peter 2:9 states Christians
are "a chosen generation." We occupy a place of prominence. As Jesus realized
that His arrest, trial, and crucifixion were rapidly approaching, He gathered
His apostles to provide some basic teaching. A portion of that teaching
is recorded in John 15:13-16. An interesting phrase appears in that passage
in V16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you ...... that
thought should cause us to reflect upon the uniqueness of Christianity.
Even when man sinned in the Garden of Eden, God purposed to send a Savior
(Genesis 3:15). It isn't simply that God chose certain people; God chose
to save those who came to Him through Jesus Christ. We do not make the
choice of lords to follow, or the kind of life to lead. The Lord Jesus
Christ chose us, and He sets the standards by which we live. The word church
means "called out." We are called out of darkness into light (Colossians
1:13).
Because of His love for us, Jesus
went to the cross. What does that mean? As a Christian, I've been chosen
by the Captain to serve in His army and that entitles me to receive "all
spiritual blessings" (Ephesians 1:3). That selection eliminates any thought
of low self-esteem. Psalm 8:4-5, "What is man, that thou art mindful of
him? and the son of man, that thou visitant him: For thou hast made him
a little lower than the angels and hast crowned him with glory and honor".
Christianity is a religion of choosing and rejoicing! |
|