WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
“As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:4, 5 (ESV)
IDENTITY: YEAH, BUT GOD SAYS YOU ARE CHOSEN
There was a boy who did not have much athletic ability. Every time he and his friends would play some game, he was always the last to be chosen. One day two new fellows came to play with them and were allowed to be team captains because they were older. The first team captain chose the boy who had always been chosen last before. Why? Because they were brothers, and he loved his brother. So it is with God. He chose us not because of our abilities, but because He loves us.
Many of us know the feeling of waiting to be picked and hoping that we aren’t picked last. As the early Christians wrestled with friends and family no longer wanting to be associated with them because they were now Christians, Peter reminds them that in God’s eyes they are “chosen and precious.” They were surrounded by so much rejection but now God has chosen them.
At some level we all want to feel special or precious. We want to feel special in a relationship, on a team, in our family or on the job. The God who made everything in the universe says you are “chosen and precious.” And God chose you because He deeply loves and cares for you. Visualize yourself standing in a long line of people waiting to be chosen for teams and it’s God’s turn to pick. And God says, “I pick you.” How does that make you feel? Thank God for that feeling while you take some time to pray.
