Читать книгу Admiring and Applauding God - R. Bruce Stevens - Страница 41

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

—John 15:19

• Many a child has experienced the dread of waiting to be chosen for a pick-up game by the gifted (and often self-appointed) captains. Each child hopes for the honor of being chosen first and, barring that, hopes against hope not to suffer the indignity of being chosen last.

• In the upper room, Jesus told the disciples that he chose them. Surely they recalled how he, after a night of prayer, selected the Twelve from a larger group of disciples.

• Every Christian is a chosen person. In the mystery of God’s sovereign ways, his Spirit stirred our deadened spirits and called us to come. We gladly heeded that call.

• Praise God that he chose us to be his daughters and sons. God has no “minor leagues” when it comes to our value or place in his family—each of us has been chosen first by our Captain. We are cherished and loved. Reflect on this truth and then march out with confidence to meet the day.