Determined, two team captains peruse the lineup with one goal in mind - to form the winning team.
My breath catches, my palms grow damp, and my prayers begin.
I know I won’t be first choice for either team, and that’s okay (I was never known for my athletic ability). Somewhere in the middle would be great, but please don’t let me be the last one standing - the one chosen by default.
This tortuous ritual went on through elementary school, junior high, and high school. It’s one reason, when I became a teacher, I relied on my cup of sticks to bring partners and teams together. It was a random draw of names I thought would eliminate the dreaded moment of rejection. Until I saw a student make an ugly face at the child’s name I pulled for his partner.
We can’t seem to avoid being unchosen in this world.
These moments brought to mind the biblical account of David being anointed as king. At first, David wasn’t even chosen to stand in line with his seven older brothers. Jesse, their father, might have been the one holding his breath, wiping his sweaty palms on his tunic, and praying as each of his sons passed before Samuel.
One by one, all seven were rejected. Then they pulled David from tending the sheep, and the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” (1 Samuel 16:12b, NIV)
Wow! To be chosen by God…
We don’t have to wonder what that might feel like because
God chose another king—Jesus Christ, the King of kings—to die for our sins because He wanted no one to perish and everyone to come to repentance (1 Peter 3:9)
Everyone.
God didn’t line us up and have Jesus pick and choose who He would die for.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The world.
Jesus says, “This is the one, and this is the one, and this is the one…”
Not just the strongest, the fastest, the prettiest, the most handsome, the nicest, the most obedient, the most loving.
He chooses ALL of us.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
With Jesus, you will never know the sting of rejection.
Jesus CHOOSES you.
Now He asks, “Will you choose Me?”