Have you ever been rejected? Felt alone? Not good enough?
It’s interesting how perspective changes over time. In our younger years we seek acceptance on the playground, the field and in the classroom.
As we grow older we seek acceptance in social media, in the board room and even in a church pew.
We seek to fill a hole that only One can fill.
There are many stories in The Bible of men and women who didn’t feel like they were good enough. Average men and women not much different from you and I but will never be forgotten for their obedience and their courage.
They were Chosen.
In Judges 6-7, we read of a young man named Gideon. While threshing wheat, He is visited by an Angel of The Lord who tells him “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon proceeds to question him not once, not twice but three times.
How many times do we question the plan of God?
Gideon, after recognizing The Angel to be real, obediently followed The Lord’s calling and with 300 men proceeded to face the Midianites who were oppressing the Israelites, God’s Chosen people. And in an amazing turn of events their enemy turned on themselves and 120,000 Midianites were killed.
I am reminded of the first words given by The Angel of The Lord to Gideon: “The Lord is with you.”
We too are chosen. God calls us His Mighty Warriors and we are on a mission.
Romans 8:28 says “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Just like Gideon, we are blessed with a purpose and just like Gideon, The Lord is with us.
So what is our mission? Colossians 3:12-14 says it like this: “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
We are called to put on Love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says that “Love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud. Does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs. Does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS.”
I can hear my voice in Gideon’s response “How can I Lord? I am weak, I am the least. I can never measure up to this mission you have called me to.”
And God answers “It’s okay my daughter because I CAN.”
God is Love and it is in Christ that we are all unified. It is not through our strength, but it is in His Strength that we can fulfill His calling.
But we must obediently step out in Faith. Just like Gideon.
We are God’s Chosen.
He said we are His, fearfully and wonderfully made in His image and He has a purpose and a plan for our lives.
We are chosen to show His Love to a dying world.
We are chosen to Go, share His Word to a thirsty world.
We are chosen to trust, hope and persevere.
Always remembering that HE NEVER FAILS.
Father, we thank You for knitting us and creating a purpose for us before we ever came to be. We thank You for writing our names in your beautiful story. We thank You for choosing us, even in our doubt and insecurity. We love You and we ask for courage and strength in the face of adversity and persecution. We pray that You will help us to see through Your Eyes, to love with Your Heart and to serve as Your Hands and Feet. And help us to always remember that You never fail.
In Jesus’ Holy and Precious Name
Your Loving Daughter