I remember when, as a child, the guys in the neighborhood would start choosing up sides for a game of football or baseball. Those were always stressful times for me. At that point in my development, I wasn’t much of an athlete, and I knew that the odds were that I would be chosen last, if at all. So, I well know the pain of not being chosen.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
I think that experience of not being chosen is one reason why this passage of Scripture is so meaningful to me. It assures me that when it comes to the most important team of all, I need never fear being left out. I have already been chosen! What’s more, I can never be un-chosen. I’m on the team for life – and beyond.
One of my greatest comforts in knowing I have been chosen by God is the fact that that He didn’t do it on the basis of my accomplishments, abilities or skills. It was totally by His sovereign grace. On the playground I always had a legitimate fear of being excluded because of my lack of athletic prowess. But in God’s kingdom, from the moment I put my faith in Christ, none of my shortcomings factor into His placing me and keeping me on His team.
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
That’s a great comfort! Since God didn’t choose me because of the wonderful things I can do or have done, I don’t have to fear that when what I do is not quite so wonderful, it will threaten my place on His team. I am secure in Him!
Another great thing about God’s choosing is that it is available to everyone. On the playground, once the number of players required for each team has been chosen, anyone left over simply will not be included in the game. And if you are not one of the chosen ones, there’s nothing you can do about it. But God’s choosing isn’t that way at all:
Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
WHOEVER is willing to call on the name of Christ can be added to God’s team. For someone like me, so often fearful in childhood that nobody would want me on their team, that’s great news!
Ron Franklin
