As I sit here on a rainy morning I can’t help but think about the grace of God. It has been a constant on my mind lately. My mind almost immediately goes to the question, why choose me? Out of all the people that God could have chosen, why am I the one that he chose? Certainly I haven’t done anything to deserve it.
It really is a mind-boggling question. Why would God choose us? I mean he could have chosen anyone. In my mind choosing me equates to building a basketball team and having the options of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, James Harden, Stephen Curry, or a middle school kid who plays basketball, and choosing the middle school kid! No offense to that kid, but I’m going with one of the other guys.
God could have chosen kings, presidents, billionaires, and other well more qualified people. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Why choose us? For the very same reason that he chose a cross to save the world. “The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” God purposely goes with the less qualified and more humble. This ensures that only he gets the glory.
One of the most powerful verses in the entire Bible starts off with “And such were some of you.” Notice the use of the past tense there. We used to be those things, but we are no longer bound by them. God somehow takes the mistakes of our past, and transforms them into something he can use. I’m not exactly sure how he does it, but I am so thankful he does.
Jesus made the statement that “many are called but few are chosen.” What separates the called from the chosen? Is it their brilliance or money? We have clearly seen that is not the case. The thing that separates the called from the chosen is the response of those who have been called. God is constantly looking for people that he can use. The question is whether we respond to his call. We don’t respond to the call with a simple prayer or an emotional moment. We respond with our obedience to the word of God.
The simple answer is that God chooses us because we are willing. He doesn’t choose us because we have a lot of money or more degrees than a thermometer. He chooses us because when he says we go. Our failures and missteps don’t scare away God like they do others. He is drawn to us specifically because we are NOT perfect.
If we were the central figures of Christianity not one of us would be qualified enough. God couldn’t use us. It’s because Jesus is the central figure that God can use murderers, adulterers, thieves and anyone else he chooses to use. And such were some of us…
