“You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” – John 15 :16 Since I was a child, I enjoyed playing soccer. At the age of ten, I have been on a playing field of our village, not far away from our home, where the older teenager played soccer. They were taller, stronger, faster and very competitive. At the end of the game, the two best players started choosing a new team. I have been the only stranger among about 15 of us, waiting to be chosen. The captain looked at all the tall players he knew, then he looked at me and said: “I choose this guy over-there”. I nearly passed out. There were excitation and a big anticipation building up my sports abilities.  One of his friends said: “Are you kitting? This one is too small. You do not even know if he can play”. Another one added: “He is too young”, what meant that I could not compete with the size of the others. From every point of view, I did not deserve to be chosen, but for any particular reason, he has chosen me nevertheless, to play in this team. I will never forget this feeling of value, approbation and confidence that this situation offered to me.   |
“You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” |
My friends, that´s what God has done for us. We do not deserve his love, his mercy and his kindness, but the scripture says: “But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ”. (Ephesians 2::13). Jesus says: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15 :16). God has chosen you! He did not make a mistake. Now, you can feel like I did on this soccer field – you are not at the right place, you are not good enough, you are a sort of stranger.  None of all these reasons will stop God. He chooses you nevertheless. Your mind tells you: “You have made too many mistakes. You are not qualified. You do not come from a Christian background”. God says: “It doesn´t matter. You are exactly the person I am looking for. I choose people who do not correspond to what others expect from them, people who are not perfect, people who have faults and weaknesses.  |
“God did not make a mistake while choosing you.”  |
When Jesus has chosen his disciples, he did not go to the synagogue to find the most qualified and prestigious candidates. He did not publish any ad on JobUp to find those who correspond the most to the criteria of holiness. He has chosen Peter, a choleric fisherman who cursed people. He has chosen Matthew, a misunderstood tax collector, known for his dishonesty. What if Jesus had asked and administration council in order to review his choice? “We regret, none of those twelve men you have suggested deserves to be a disciple. Peter is subject to choleric excesses. Thomas has a spirit of doubt destroying the moral of the troupes. Matthew has problems of integrity and is mentioned on the black list of the office of commercial claims in Jerusalem”. Jesus has taken into consideration all of this and has nevertheless chosen those men, in the same manner as he has chosen and predestined you. Mark it in your mind: You have been chosen by the creator of the universe. You belong to the family of God. He mentions you as a masterpiece, as a formidable and wonderful creature. Do not allow fear, insecurity or guilt separate you from your greatness in Christ. Continue being and becoming the person God wanted you to be. Be blessed in the glorious name of Jesus. |
Prayer: Thank you, father, that you have chosen me. I am loved and coddled by yourself. Help me to enter my destiny and to be the one you have called me to be. Thank you for your forgiveness, your grace and your mercy. I love you, Lord. Amen.
