When I was just eight years old, I learned what it was like not to be chosen. It was in Physical Education (PE) class. One day every week, the girls donned pink elastic waist dresses and knickers and the boys wore white T’s and shorts, a departure from our regular Catholic School uniform. Two captains would be chosen each to lead a team that would compete against the other in physical activities. The moment I dreaded most would follow when the captains would select members for their team from the group of 30 or so students in my class. Among the first to be chosen would be the popular kids, followed by the cool kids, the athletically inclined kids, and the really smart kids.

There I stood, feeling inadequate and unappreciated as name after name that was not mine was called. In truth, I was not the poster child of athleticism. At that age, I was already tall and lanky and because I was growing into my ever-sprouting frame, I was awkward in my body. It didn’t help that I suffered from bouts of asthma that made physical exertion a challenge. As my classmates high fived and pat each other on the back as they were chosen, I stood, frozen, staring intently at some spot on the concrete, so the shame on my face could be veiled. Finally, I’d hear one of the captains say, “I choose Natalie”. At this point in the selection with the teams pretty much finalized, no one really cared. Even though I was eventually “chosen”, it was because I had to be, not because I was favored in any way. On a good day, I wasn’t called dead last.

I got so used to not being chosen or favored that when I was, I simply could not believe it. At 25 years old I was offered a much-coveted full scholarship to attend Cambridge University to pursue a Master’s degree. Nothing in my experience to this point quite prepared me for this achievement. I spent the first few months of my program in complete disbelief, thinking that surely the powers that be must have made a mistake. How could I have been chosen?  In my most insecure moments, I felt that if they knew who I really was, they would never have chosen me. Imposter Syndrome ran rampant in my mind and almost derailed my success. Yet I had worked very hard to earn such an award, graduating at the top of my class as an undergraduate. It just seemed too good to be true. Though I was chosen to be among a privileged few students, I could not embrace the gift until I accepted the fact that I had earned it and deserved it and had what it took to successfully get through it.

How different is God’s selection of His chosen children! In Ephesians 1:4-5, Paul says God “… chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—” There is so much to unpack in these two verses. But the clincher for me is the realization that God’s love and selection of me are different than anything that I would ever experience on earth, even being chosen as the recipient of a prestigious scholarship to one of the most renowned universities in the world. With God’s choice, I don’t have to earn it and I certainly don’t deserve it. For as scripture says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

It is no surprise that I would struggle for a long time to understand that as a child of God, I had been chosen, specially selected, before the creation of the whole Universe. God’s choice is not haphazard, or by chance. It is not an afterthought, a whim, or a compromise. It’s certainly not a “have to”. No, we are chosen, selected, set apart, by His design!

We are unconditionally loved and chosen before we could even try to earn it, and the best part is we don’t have to. Instead, no matter how flawed, how broken we are, how inadequate, or unworthy we may feel, in God’s eyes in Christ, we are holy, blameless, and righteous. He calls us to Himself, by name, before we are even named by our earthly parents. Through the prophet, Isaiah God says, “Do not fear for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name. You are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1). Later in chapter 49 verse 16, he says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

How to fathom how much God simply treasures His children? As a chosen child, I am accepted and belong to the family of believers. I am His handiwork and masterpiece, as is every one of His black, brown, yellow, white, or pink children. I don’t have to strive for it. I don’t have to compete for it. I don’t have to petition for it.  I don’t earn it or deserve it. I just must believe it. The rest is all grace.

In watching the TV series, the Chosen, it is so evident how privileged we are to be children of God. Every one of the disciples God chose and called had their issues. The series imagines what some of their backstories might have been, given the personalities revealed in the bible. Simon Peter is stubborn, rebellious, a snitch, and a troublemaker. Mathew, dear Mathew, has Asperger’s and is reviled and scorned by everyone because of his wealth and status. Mary Magdalene is so devastated by demon possession she tries to commit suicide. Each of them, broken, misfits, outcasts in their own way, yet chosen by the King of the Universe to be one of His.

Just as the disciples were a ragtag group of very human people, the gospel brought flawed people together that didn’t normally comingle. Different classes, different colors, different politics. All saved by grace, and united in Christ. This is good news!

It is so for each of us, today. God sees us exactly as we are in all our mess, with all our flaws. Yet while we were deep in our sin, depraved and blind, Christ died for us, so that we might be made alive in Him. So that we could be free to do what He purposed us to do and bring glory to Him.

How we live that out is different for each one of us. It is as in John’s gospel when Peter wonders what God’s plans are for John and Jesus says to him, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22) God has a unique calling for each of us that is interwoven into His grand design for all humanity. Paul was specifically called to preach the gospel to Gentiles. Peter was called to be the Rock for the church.  John was given revelation, which he recorded, of the end times.

We are chosen and called. To be chosen is to be called! We are all called to bring unity in Christ, to live a life in service to others, like Jesus, to share the gospel, to be Light and Salt to our broken world, even in our brokenness. God in His omniscience, has a plan for each of us, a unique calling that we are meant to fulfill for His purposes, and he gives us the grace to accomplish it, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4:7)

Do you hear the call God has placed on your life? Your response to that call is worship and obedience. For you to follow Him where He leads.

Let Us Pray

Lord, help us to understand how precious we are to you, how treasured, as your chosen ones. Humble our hearts so we may yield to your voice and lay aside everything we have made an idol in our lives. Give us the courage and boldness to not be ashamed of the gospel but to preach the message of your salvation where you call us. Encourage us as only you can Father, so we trust that you do not call those who are already equipped, but that you equip those you do call, to do the work you uniquely designed for us, so we can move forward in confidence and hope knowing that you’ve got our back. Let us not forget that you call us to become united in Christ as one people. May we each do the tough work required to be ambassadors of reconciliation so we may see a glimpse of heaven in your church and our world.  Thank you for continuing to shower us with your grace. In Jesus' name.