Chosen One

Isaiah 41: 9

I have chosen you and not rejected you.

Do you ever wonder who you are in Christ? Or do you love God but just don’t know how you fit in? Do not worry. God called you from the far reaches of the earth. He called you when you didn’t know him. You love God because He first loved you. He wanted you in His family since the beginning of time. He picked you; He chose you. He certainly has not rejected you. Perhaps you do not think you are who you should be. Well, we are all growing into a better version of ourselves, but that does not mean that God is rejecting who you are. He just wants you to grow up into the you that you were always destined to be. That does not mean that He wants to alter the basic elements of who you are. We just all have to grow. We all need to learn to walk in love, mercy, peace and truth. We don’t just instinctively know how to do that. So, sure, we are all learning and growing but God wants you to know that He, Himself, has chosen you and not rejected you. He wants you to hear this loud and clear. He knew exactly who you were when He got you. He called you to Himself when you were yet imperfect. So, don’t think you have to be perfect to please Him. He is the perfection. Just join with Him. Integrate who you are with who He is. You will be perfect in Him because the two of you will make an unbeatable pair.

From this day on, never again question who you are because I am going to tell you who you are. You are God’s chosen, His elect. He sought you and He bought you. You have been redeemed in the perfection that He is. You are His joy and His delight. You are receiving this message because you are a precious member of His own family. He has always loved you and validated you. He just longs for more of you.

Afflicted but Accepted

Psalm 22: 24

For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him; but when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

God never abandons His people but when one is going through a difficult time, it is easy to feel alone and isolated. No matter your situation right now, God is not offended by those problems that hinder you. He is offended by sin. But even if sin is the problem that afflicts you, there is none better to save you. Yahweh does not hide His face from you, but you may hide yours from Him.

Every society has groups of people who are less favored than others. God doesn’t see us that way. You don’t have to be popular to be popular with Him. You don’t have to be pretty for Him to think you dazzle. And, no matter how ugly your problems are, He sees them as the plight of humanity. He created forgiveness for every sin just as He created deliverance for every human problem.

No matter your challenges, no matter your disappointments, turn to Him today and ask for His help. He will always answer your cry for help. You are never alone. He is awaiting you so that He can be a very real and present help.

No Rejects

Isaiah 41: 9

I have chosen you and not rejected.

If you are reading these words then you can be happy because God has chosen you. I know this because you would not be reading this if you had not been chosen by God. He has chosen you to be His own beloved. Does that give you a sense of belonging and value?

God has also said that He has not rejected you. I am amazed at the number of people who feel rejected in some form or another. Even a great number of Christians seem to feel unaccepted by the church and even by God Himself. Well, we no longer have to worry about rejection by God. He has told us, unequivocally, that we are acceptable in His sight.

God is love. He sent Jesus into the world to save you so that you could be in His family and live forever with Him. He didn’t send Jesus into the earth to judge and condemn. He isn’t trying to keep you out of heaven. He is trying to make sure you spend eternity in His house. God wants to express His love to you. How can someone who is love be critical and reject everyone who is not perfect? God sent the perfect one so that he could be perfect for us. This allows us all to just be ourselves. Sure, we are all trying to be the best version of ourselves that we can be but God will not love us anymore because He does not love us any less now. His love for us is also perfect and complete.

Before you were born, God knew exactly what you would be like and He chose you none the less. He never required you to earn His love and acceptance. They are both free gifts. You never have to feel like an outcast because God loves you perfectly today. Isn’t that great?

Accepted

Isaiah 41: 9

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts, and said to you, “You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.”

I suppose most people have dealt with rejection or the sense of rejection at some time in their life. Many have felt insecure in their relationship with God too. The good news is that God has accepted you. No matter what the world may say about you; no matter what your negative brother-in-law says about you, God loves you and accepts you; even as you are.

I am not trying to say that most of us don’t need some transformation in our lives but we have been chosen by God. We really need to meditate on this scripture and let it sink down into our spirits. We need to have such a rock solid understanding and recognition of God’s favor over our lives such that nothing and no one can cause us to doubt our acceptance by God. 

This is a really big deal. There are books and books on the topic of rejection because so many of us have dealt with feelings of unacceptance and rejection. Sometimes we feel that we can never be what others want us to be but God is here shouting loudly that you do not have to change for Him to love you. Even before you were born He saw you and you were, and are, lovely in His sight. No matter how many mistakes you make, He still sees the beautiful you and He would say to you that you are wondrously made in His own image.

I feel like I could and should write much more on this so that you hear time and time again that God considers you lovely and worthy of His affection. However, He has said it best, “I have chosen you and not rejected you.” Hear the word of the Lord.