Chosen

“The Lord your God has chosen you…to be His own. The Lord did not give you His love and choose you because you were more people than any of the nations. For the number of your people was less than all nations.” Deuteronomy 7:6,7

We have such a difficult time understanding grace because there are so few examples of it in everyday life. Nearly everything we enjoy has a price tag attached. We are chosen for the team because we have particular talents that match the squad’s needs. We get the lead in the community theater because someone liked our reading better than all others. Even things that seem “free” have qualifications. Because of a trust set aside before she was even born, a graduate may have their entire college tuition paid. She may not have deserved it, but she received it because she was part of a particular family.

But God, wanting to demonstrate the qualities of grace, selected a small nation as His “chosen”. Egypt was greater, other nations were more numerous. Science and writing were developing among other tribes in that part of the world. This is not to mention the great civilizations along the Yangtze and Yellow River Basins, as well as the Mayan and Aztecs in Central and South America. The Hebrews had no great pyramids and little military might. It is important to understand this when we talk about them as God’s “chosen” people.

He chose this small band of people before they were even a nation; calling Abraham out of Ur to follow the Lord of All by faith. Abraham had nothing to commend Himself to God more than anyone else. What God did honor was Abraham’s faith once he was chosen. Seeing that he believed God, the Lord counted that as righteousness. He did not look for the most righteous, then make His choice. He chose, Abraham believed, and God accepted that as “payment”.

So, as we look back at God’s choice of Israel, we must remember His own words concerning His own motivations. He didn’t love them because they were greater than all the nations. Their number “was less than all nations.” God does not love Israel because that nation did anything to catch God’s eye. It was His choice. He wanted to show His grace and love and chose a small clan just being birthed along the Fertile Crescent.

All this is in preparation for what He will do in Christ. Jesus famously tells His disciples, “You have not chosen Me, I have chosen you. I have set you apart for the work of bringing in fruit.” (John 15:16a) Do not ever think that, in your walk with God, that you got to pick among a menagerie of flavors; Jesus, Buddha, Hinduism, Mohammed, etc. It is God who does the choosing. Before all creation He chose You in Christ, dear one. Our part is to respond by faith. Grace never forces itself upon its recipients, or else it would not be grace.

I have experience the joy of recognition for my labors. I was voted Best Actor in a High School of 4000 which put on four full length plays a year. But, I never made the football team and dropped out of track. I have seen great successes in my career, but also times when it felt all my abilities had dried up and flown away.

When I hear God tell young Israel that He did not choose or love them because they were special in themselves, I know that even if I am never recognized for any particular achievements, I have been chosen by God Himself. Jesus picked twelve men with little religious education; one was a hated tax collector, another a political rebel, one denied Him, another betrayed Him and handed Him over to be crucified. And, looking down the centuries, He also chose you.

He doesn’t care if there are no trophies on your bookshelf; you are His trophy. He does not count the plaques that adorn your wall; you are His personal treasure. God has everything He needs, so why would He choose any of us based upon what we have? God’s purpose for you is to be a recipient of His love. He sent Jesus to give His life on a cruel cross to show you how deeply He loves you. And He raised Christ from the dead to show the power of that same love.

Take that love today and face the world as a winner. Go into this day as a member of God’s own royal family. You are hand-picked, and, as you follow, He is also fashioning you into the beautiful image of His Son. You have a bright future and the best Coach in all the world. Get up and go in the power of His overwhelming love.