Chosen

Wednesday, August 29

Scripture Reading—John 15:16-25

Do you remember those uncomfortable scenes from elementary school?  Captains are chosen and told to choose their teams for dodgeball, kickball, basketball, or some other competition.  Of course the biggest, fastest, and sometimes meanest kids get picked first.  You only hope and pray you’re not the last one chosen.  That’s a rather public humiliation for any kid to endure.  It means either people don’t like you, or you’re just not big or fast enough to merit people’s attention!  As we get older, the stakes get higher.  We want to be chosen by the school we want to attend, or the employer we want to work for, or the partner we hope to attract.  Sometimes our wishes come true—and sometimes they don’t.  Unfortunately, we spend a lot of our time trying to turn ourselves into the kind of person we think will make those people or institutions we want to be connected with want us.  I’m so thankful that Jesus looked at his disciples and reminded them, “You did not choose me but I chose you.”  And thankfully Jesus’ way of choosing people isn’t anything like ours.  Jesus often chose people others rejected as unclean, unworthy, or unimportant.  In fact, Jesus wants us all to be part of his team, his family.  All we have to do is say, “Yes.”

Thought for the day:  God chooses all of us to be part of God’s family. Being chosen by God, and accepting that offer of belonging to God, is what makes life worth living!

 Prayer:  O God, thank you that you choose us to be your much loved children.  Whenever we become too anxious about how others treat or evaluate us, help us to remember that you choose us to be part of your family—just as we are.  Amen.