1 Corinthians 1:27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
One of the most painful experiences of my childhood was at Infants' school during break time in the playground.
My first friend from home had found another group to join and, being a shy kid, I sat on a bench watching the other kids play.
Then a few girls came along saying: "Who wants to play doctors and nurses"? (That was the routine in those days - whoever wanted to play, joined the group).
So, up I got, eager to make a connection.
However, the leader of the group looked at me with disdain and said: "We don't want you!"
It was like a dagger in my heart.
I went back to the bench, devastated inside, and sat there throughout break time alone.
Ahhhhhh Kids can be cruel.
Suffice to say that the incident had a deep effect on me growing up and other episodes tended to emphasise that I wasn't wanted.
What a joy to discover Jesus!
Sitting at the back of a children's meeting, alone again, one Friday in May 1963, I learned that Jesus died on a cross for ME, yes, the ME that no one wanted to play with - He loved ME, He chose ME!
I can still see the picture I saw of Jesus hanging on the cross, and, putting my hand up, I asked Jesus to come into my heart.
Plucking up all the courage I could muster, I went forward and "Uncle" Colin Benton wrote my name down to record my decision. This was somewhere I was wanted.
You may be reading this and your life has been a trail of rejections. But God wants to drown out the noise of those voices and shout out that He chooses YOU.
You are not unwanted - God, in Jesus, emptied Himself so He could fill Heaven with rejects like you and me!
In the verse above we see how our Heavenly Father deliberately chooses the weak and the foolish to confound the wise.
It was always God's way. He chose little Israel to be His people.
He could have chosen the Chinese or the Egyptians, or some of the great ancient nations. But, no, choosing something small and weak demonstrates the greatness of the Lord.
I'm happy to boast in my "chosen-ness" now!
It doesn't matter who rejects me on this earth, because:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose me in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined me for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given me in the One He loves. Ephesians 1:4 onward ( forgive me, I changed the"us" to "me" to re-tell my own soul afresh this morning - try reading it aloud to yourself and bathe in the glory of it).
My prayer
Father God, no words can describe the wonder of being chosen by You!
After all these years I'm still amazed, incredulous at your love in Christ Jesus my Lord.
Share this song with me and be amazed again: https://youtu.be/ue8ZCAc9xQ8
Comentarios