Chosen

1 Thessalonians 1:4

We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

Entertainer Garrison Keilor recalls the childhood pain of being chosen last for the baseball teams: “The captains are down to their last grudging choices: a slow kid for catcher, someone to stick out in right field where nobody hits it. They choose the last ones two at a time—"you and you"—because it makes no difference. And the remaining kids—the scrubs , the excess—they deal for us as handicaps. "If I take him, then you gotta take him," they say.

Sometimes I go as high as sixth, usually lower. But just once I'd like Darrel to pick me first and say, "Him! I want him! The skinny kid with the glasses and the black shoes. You, c'mon!" But I've never been chosen with much enthusiasm.”

Have you ever felt like people didn’t choose you, they got stuck with you? It’s not a good feeling. I wonder how many of us think that God promised us salvation, but only because he offered it to everyone else. That’s why today’s passage is so earthshaking.

God loves you. God chose you. In fact, God enthusiastically chose you!

You aren’t the dumpy kid on the playground he gets picked last. You were his first pick.

Try this: say this verse out loud and insert your own name: “We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves Jerry Godsey and has chosen Jerry Godsey to be his own people.” Go ahead, try it! I’ll wait…

Oh good, you’re back. Did you believe it, or did you just say the words? It feels weird at first, because who are we to be blessed like this? We are God’s chosen, and He enthusiastically chose you to be his own. Let that sink in…

Today’s Readings: Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1-3

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