“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9 (NLT)

To be chosen is a wonderful thing. In elementary school, two or three people would be picked to choose their teams. Excitedly the first few were picked and the team leaders were thrilled with their top picks. I watched as the lines dwindled. Finally three were left for three teams. At this point the excited team leaders would shrug and say, “I guess I will take ….” Often I would be in those last three. I would look at the other two remaining. We all felt it. We all knew what we were, the last ones, the ones that had I guess before their names. Was there often in elementary school. I was tall and lanky and like a german shepherd puppy I had not grown into my feet to make them go the way they were supposed to go.

Relief came in high school where you counted off numbers and all the numbers were teams. A much fairer way to choose. But, by that time, I had grown into my feet and legs and could compete with the best of them.

Being chosen. So many times in life we choose or we are chosen. It becomes second nature to us. It is part of life. We understand what it means and we accept when we are not the ones chosen.

This week I have thought about the above scripture. I am a chosen person. God chose me. I am His. I am on the winning team. I don’t have to prove myself to Him. He has already chosen me. He didn’t look at my physical attributes, or my abilities, or my intelligence. He looked into my heart. He knows my heart’s desire.

“Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)

I am chosen and loved with an everlasting love. He has and continues to draw me closer to Him. He loves me just as I am. Although I am far from perfect, and I don’t understand much, He is the One who is perfecting me and molding me into His image and giving me wisdom as we go along.