Chosen

1 Chronicles 29:1 “Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.”

Many have been that one who was last when choosing sides for a game.

Some had felt the sting of rejection when others were chosen before us. Whether a job, a promotion, or even consideration for an award, our expectations were dashed when another name was read, and someone else may have taken place we coveted.

When I read about Solomon being the one God chose, memories of times I was not chosen came flooding back. It was then I realized that Ole Smutty Face (my pet name for the devil) was trying to divert my attention from the truth that I have been chosen!

Ephesians 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

The emphasis is to show the promise to all children of God that we are chosen, predestined, and accepted by our loving Heavenly Father.

We are all chosen by God to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The free will we have to choose leaves us with the decision. 

It is the belief of this author that God chooses what church He wishes you to attend. Bear with me as I present the logic for this belief.

Leaving the teaching that we are all chosen by God to be saved, and the decision is made by each individual once presented with a clear gospel presentation, we go on to the fact that God ordained two institutions; the family and the church.

The Heavenly Father chose our mother and father. He chose the time and place we were to be born. He has given to each of us gifts and talents to be used for His glory. 

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

The church, being His institution, purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, has members that make up each local New Testament church that represents the body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the head, and all others are made to have their place and function within it.

Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

These things have been chosen by God for us to operate within here on this earth. 

Think about it.

God chose you and me before the foundation of the world.

He provided that we be given a choice to choose Jesus as our personal Savior and gave us the Word of God to lead us to place our trust in Him. Religion restricts that choice by placing requirements saying we need to ‘be this’ or ‘do that’ to be saved. 

God said:

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

“Whosoever” means anyone and everyone.

When you think about how personal His decision is to want and desire us to know exactly who it is, it is incredible!

In me, God got an alcoholic, drug addict, who committed many sins too long to mention. Yet, knowing all that, He still chose me to become His child!

John 1:12-13 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

We do not have the power to become a child of God. It is something He provides.

So, not only did He choose us, He gave us the power to become what He wanted us to be.

Being born of God makes one an adopted child of God. Once adopted, we cannot and will not be forsaken… ever!

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

We all battle loneliness at times. But when the battle rages to draw us into anxiety and depression, we must combat it with the Word of God. Knowing that God chose me counters Satan’s attack that my sin causes God to reject me.

God’s love is not based upon our performance FOR Him, but who we are TO him.

There is not one thing we can do to alter the intensity and magnitude of God’s love for us. We can choose to reject His love, but honestly, who would do that?

Yes, I know that some do, but I cannot help but believe that they are in the grips of Satan’s bonds and blinded from seeing the truth. 

When the battle comes to your doorstep, pick up your sword, the Word of God, and do battle. The devil cannot win against God’s Word.