Chosen

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of of him who called you out of the darkness and into his marvelous light.”

I remember the first time I ever felt utterly rejected.

Ugh. It was the worst.

There were small little moments on the playground, in the neighborhood and at Sunday school – when kids were just being kids. Ideally, those small life moments are supposed to prepare you for the bigger ones, but I don’t know that life always works that way. Rejection never gets easier, as we get older the stakes seem to get higher.

I know we have all felt it. Whether it was a parent leaving, a best friend moving beyond you, your first break up… your last break up, your boss firing you, your spouse being unfaithful… We all have these wounds, hidden shame, and deep hurt that comes from exposing your heart and soul – the essence of who you are in a vulnerable way and being left feeling like you are unworthy, never enough. Forsaken.

You and I are familiar with the sting of rejection.

We also all truly desire two things – to be known and to be loved.

This morning when I woke up and began to lick my wounds, reciting the same story that has been haunting me for awhile – God interrupted my pity party and spoke to me.

You are CHOSEN.

When the enemy tries to remind you and I of all that we are not – we need to push back even harder with the truth of who we are.

We are chosen.

If you belong to Jesus, YOU ARE CHOSEN.

Not just as a favor, not out of pity, not because He has to choose you – but because He delights in choosing you.

He knows your innermost being – and he still chooses you…

He knows your darkest sin, your deepest festering wounds, and the ugliest part of your soul and every single morning His mercies are new for you – He claims you, chooses you, and hand picks you to call as His very own. At your best and at your worst you are His prize. When He looks at you and I He sees all that He put in us. He sees works of art. He sees us covered in the righteousness of Jesus.
He knows you have been forsaken – and He knows exactly what it feels like. He was rejected and forsaken too in the most unjust way known to man. If anyone knows the feeling it’s Him. If anyone has the authority in your life to speak the truth of who you are it is also HIM.

So today, fight back.

When the enemy screams what you are not – speak out loud the truth of who you are. Tune your ear to the still small voice that continually speaks over you, you are mine – you are chosen, you are made perfect in me… come out of the darkness and stand confidently in my marvelous light and shine.