Gloria Phifer
How many of us long to be "chosen". In the world to be "chosen" contains great privileges. I can remember, as I am sure you can, of times when I was not chosen. The hurt and rejection that come with that. It was taken personally…"what's wrong with me that I am the last one on the ball team to be "chosen". Changing schools 14 times I had plenty of "not being chosen…not being accepted."
I personally believe, the enemy begins early with rejection, to build a stronghold and lies that we are not valuable.
Then there are the times when we have been chosen…a small light that flickers as a candle and then burns out. To be "chosen" in the world is fickle. The world cannot be trusted. They can take you in one moment and throw you out the next. Not so with our God.
Eph. 1:4 is one of my favorite scriptures. What are your thoughts about being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world? Thoughts of being holy and without blame before Him in love?
In my flesh I have little experience with being chosen. In my spirit I am crying out…"Yay!!!" I am Chosen!!! I am so valuable to God!!! Before the foundation of the world!!! Wow!!! This scripture is one to meditate on and pondered. You and I can stand before Almighty God in holiness and without any blame because of Christ! Ahhh to be chosen…what wonder. I love this…how about you?
1 Cor. 1:25-29. We are not what the world would have chosen. And we cannot take this glory; it belongs to God alone. Do you realize what a miracle for us, that we are chosen by God?
I am sure there are people from my childhood and teen years that wonder if I ever made it. I'm sure they would stagger in wonder that Gloria is a follower of Jesus and even teaches a Bible study…the wonder of it all. I have heard Joyce Meyer say, "Do you realize how impossible it is that I am standing up here?"
Your thoughts that God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise?
James 2:5 chosen the poor of this world…rich in faith…heirs of the Kingdom.
What I see is Grace. Grace that God can take a life in shambles and turn it into His Glory. Thank you God that I am what the world would have counted foolish, weak and poor. You have made me Your child. All the glory belongs to You!!! And this Glory belongs to You.!!!
I just noticed, in the margin of my Bible, it has "God's Tool Chest"…number one was "Chosen Instruments…." For 1 Cor. 1:27. How profound…thank You Lord.
I care nothing about this world and its acceptance…I want only to be chosen by God!!!
John 15:16, 19 Jesus chose us and ordained that we would go forth and bear fruit. He has given us the privilege of asking the Father in His Name. In vs. 19…the world will hate us because we are not of this world.
What are your thoughts? Is there a cost of being chosen?
When we are IN CHRIST we are no longer of this world. We live in it, but we are Citizens of a Heavenly Kingdom. Later in the study we will look at this Kingdom within. there is an old song "Take the world, but Give me Jesus!!!"
2 Thess. 2:13. He has chosen us from the beginning!!! Wow! Yay God!
1 Peter 2:9" you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people: that you should show forth the praises of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Your thoughts?
I love this scripture. You and I are chosen in this generation…for such a time as this. You and I are royal priests. We are holy. We are peculiar (not like the world…of a different kind.) We have the privileges of showing forth the praises of God (also by the way we live our lives.) For someone who lived in darkness…I am sooo thankful He called me into His marvelous light…All praise to Jesus.
Beloved…you have been chosen!!! Here is our proclamation…I AM CHOSEN OF GOD!!!
AMEN AND AMEN. I'm rejoicing…how about you?
Ø I am a child of the living God.
Ø I am chosen by God.