But you are a chosen people,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

a people to be his very own

and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

I Peter 2:9

When I work with kids in a gym trying to organize a group game, they beg to pick captains and let those captains pick the team. I probably don’t have to tell you how that goes over. Some sweet kid is standing there, inwardly pleading, please, please pick me but their inward pleas go unheeded. Some resign themselves to being last pick. It hurts my feelings for them and I am sure it hurts theirs. So, I say no to their begging and pick the teams myself.

Have you ever experienced that feeling? That hope that, this time, you will not be last pick, that you will be chosen, it will be your turn to be first pick? Only to discover that this isn’t your time? I remember that from my school days, how many decades ago?  It hurts. We all want to be first pick or at least, not last.

This verse assures us that in God’s eyes, we are first pick. We are chosen to be His. What an honor and a privilege that is! This verse implies a responsibility, too. We are chosen by Him, to be His, so that we can tell others of how He brought us out of darkness and into His light. I remember the darkness my life was before I acknowledged His presence and invited Him into my life. It was grim; everyday was like being on a sinking ship and knowing that nothing I did could stop the ship from going down. But then, I called out to Him and He stabilized my ship and brought a meaning to my life I would have never dreamed possible. He brought His light into my darkness and my life has never been the same since.

Can you rest in the fact that God has chosen you? Can you take comfort in knowing you weren’t a last pick for Him, but a first pick and that He calls you His own?

Lord, to be first pick is really something that never happened for me until You came along and chose me. What a honor that not only did You see me in my despair, in the sinking ship I called my life, but You were willing to reach out a hand, call me to be Your own and bring me into Your marvelous light. All I can say is thank You and proclaim Your wonderful deeds as You lead, in Jesus’s name, amen.

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.

picture credit:  hotels4teams.com