(These are some ideas I have been exploring over the past while, and they are not to be confused with a rather popular video series with the same title.) 

When we are chosen, we discover that we are valued. 

When I look back on my life, I see many instances where being chosen or not being chosen had a major impact on who I was becoming.  In grade school, we would all go out to the softball field, and two captains would choose their teams.  I was almost always chosen early, which made me think I was a good ball player.  This influenced my athletic career in major ways over the years.

Later in my sophomore year in college, the basketball coach said I was number 16 on a 15-man team. I rationalized it: The ones ahead of me were on athletic scholarships, and mine was academic, so that must have been the reason—well, they were also better than I was, which just might have been a factor in the decision. But I was not chosen, and that was a very painful experience.

However, a little later in the year, I discovered a far more significant choice: God chose me, and I began a wonderful journey of living in His love.  I identify with this quote:

“We have been seen by God from all eternity and seen as unique, special, precious beings.  From all eternity, long before you were born and became a part of history, you existed in God’s heart.  Long before your parents admired you or your friends acknowledged your gifts or your teachers, colleagues and employers encouraged you, you were already “chosen as the Beloved of God.”  ~ Life of the Beloved by Henri J. W. Nouwen            

God Has Been Choosing Throughout History

Over and over again in the Old Testament, the Israelites were called chosen people.  But when you read about their lives, you have to conclude they were valuable because God chose them—not because they were more honorable than others in their generation.  This is even true of those who God chose to lead his people: Abraham, a liar, and a doubter; Moses, a murderer who was not eloquent but was chosen to speak God’s message; David, an adulterer, and a murderer; and on and on.  The important thing is that God empowers us by his choosing, not because of our qualifications.

When we get to the New Testament, we find one who was chosen who was worthy: Jesus was chosen

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will proclaim justice to the nations. . . In his name the nations will put their hope.” Isaiah’s Prophecy about Jesus in Matthew 12:18-21

But back to the unqualified. The Twelve were chosen—not because of their value, but because of Jesus’s choosing. They were eventually transformed into very valuable people in the Kingdom of God. Near the end of his time on earth, Jesus said to the Eleven (Judas was gone), “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you so that you might bear fruit.” 

Paul was Chosen: “The Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”  This passage makes it clear that God’s choosing is for transformation and for being part of Kingdom building on earth. 

Peter wrote to his fellow believers: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood.”  These were just ordinary folks who were transformed into very valuable people because they were chosen by God. 

We Are Chosen and God is transforming us to be of value in his kingdom.  One way to see this:

“What if one were to envision God as friend to humanity as a whole, and even more intimately, friend to the individual, to me?  A friend whose presence is joy, ever-deepening relationship and love, ever available in direct address, in communion and presence?  A friend who widens our perspectives daily and who deepens our passion for freedom?  A friend who God can use to make a difference in His world?  What if?  Women’s Spirituality by Ann Carr

How do we live as chosen people?

For me, I begin by receiving the gift of God’s initiative by living with a grateful heart for what it means to be loved in this way. It is an amazing gift to be fully known and fully loved at the same time.

There are some barriers to overcome that keep us from living as chosen people.  Here are two quotes that help me understand this issue:

“Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.  If we want to fully experience love and belonging, we must believe that we are worthy of love and belonging.  When we can let go of what other people think and own our story, we gain access to our worthiness – the feeling that we are enough just as we are and that we are worthy of love and belonging.” ~ The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene’ Brown

“It is religion’s job to teach us and guide us on this discovery of our True Self, but it usually makes the mistake of turning this into a worthiness contest of some sort, a private performance, or some kind of religious achievements on our part, through our belonging to the right group, practicing the right rituals, or believing the right things.” ~ Falling Upward by Richard Rohr

It has been important for me to recognize and to celebrate that I belong to God. 

So much of my life has been shaped by wanting to belong; in a loving family, which rarely happened; with peers in school where performance was often the requisite; with various girls I dated in my teens; and even in various Christian groups when they had certain practices that determined whether you were in or out.  Slowly I have discovered that this belonging comes alive when I understand that my security is found in Christ rather than all the other places I have sought this.

Because we are created by God and we have this special relationship of love with God we don’t have to earn God’s love by impressing Him with our accomplishments.  In fact, we cannot do so because He has already declared us special and loved and there is nothing we can do to increase or decrease His love for us.  We are somebody important just because Jesus said so. 

Jesus is again our model. 

Jesus knew who he was and to whom he belonged!  He was already valuable and special in his Father’s eyes.   And because he knew who he was, he was free to take the lowest place and wash his disciples’ feet.  He could let those who controlled the religious system put him to death.  And he could speak with boldness and authority to friends and foes alike.  His life of significance to others was based in part on knowing to whom he belonged.

Paul writes about how we are to live as chosen people. 

He wrote to fellow believers in Colosse that “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  A good way to share our chosenness with other chosen people.  And if those aren’t enough,  Paul writes another two paragraphs in that letter with more instructions about how we are to live in relationship with sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus. 

In my journey I have experienced that it is sometimes difficult to love close friends; and that it is meaningful to walk with close friends as chosen people; and it is transforming for us and for those God brings into our lives to live as chosen people.

For too many years I saw some of my companions on the journey as competitors because they performed so well.  I wrongly believed I had to perform up to the standards that their lives appeared to be.  What a joy to discover that when God is alive in us chosen people we love each other and encourage each other and empower each other in wonderful ways.

My prayer for me, for those who I love up close, and for those I love who are far away is that we would celebrate how loved and special we are to the Lord and how loved and special we are to each other and that we can communicate being chosen to those we know who have yet to experience this.