“You did not choose me, but I chose you . . . ” John 15:16 NIV
Remember elementary P.E.? When it was time to play kickball or dodgeball or softball, teams were formed by captains who chose players, one by one, collecting players back and forth, until everyone was on a team. Those who had the best skills were chosen first. Others (like me) who didn’t care for running or kicking or hitting were chosen last.
If this vision brings back good or bad memories, I am about to reveal another true color of being a child of God . . . we have ALL been CHOSEN! And God chose ALL of us FIRST! We are ALL on the SAME TEAM! We are not competing for God’s attention. With differing skills, talents, personalities, and situations, we ALL have been CHOSEN as part of God’s grand plan to bring love, forgiveness, joy, peace, healing, goodness and grace to the world.
Jesus reveals this truth in John 15 as he speaks to all of the apostles for a final time. “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit. . .” John 15: 16 NLT
As you read the scripture, you may think Jesus is referring to selecting the twelve disciples who would minister with him on earth. But Jesus conveys a deeper meaning. Before we chose to follow him, he had already chosen us. We were chosen from the very beginning.
We were chosen to be created by God.
We were chosen to be saved by God.
We were chosen to live on earth at a specific time for a specific purpose in God’s kingdom.
We were chosen to be known and loved by God simply for who we are.
We were chosen to be holy in God’s sight.
“For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 7:6 NLT Moses’ words to the Israelites illustrate a privilege given to all of God’s children; belonging to him.
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be made holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do and it brought him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT Paul says God picked us first; he always intended to rescue us and keep us as his own.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2: 9 NLT Peter, who spent three solid years learning from Jesus, gives us identity as God’s possession, living in the light of his goodness.
Let it sink in. God is never going to kick you off his team. You have been chosen and he’ll stay right with you helping you learn every skill you need.
In closing, let these words from Henri Nouwen penned in his daybook, Bread for the Journey, open your eyes to the true colors of your existence.
Jesus is the Chosen One. From all eternity God has chosen his most precious Child to become the savior of the world. Being chosen expresses a special relationship, being loved and known in a unique way, being singled out.
In our society our being chosen always implies that others are not chosen. But this is not true for God. God chooses his Son to reveal to us our chosenness.
In the Kingdom of God there is no competition or rivalry. The Son of God shares his chosenness with us. In the Kingdom of God each person is precious and unique, and each person has been given eyes to see the chosenness of others and rejoice in it.
Reaching in (allowing God’s word to work in your soul): Use the scriptures referenced above to read and understand more about your chosenness.
Reaching out (taking God’s word into the world): Every time you see the number one (1) this week, let it remind you that God chose you first.
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