“God’s chosen people!” Ha!! It seemed like everything and everyone was against them!! It was laughable that they were “chosen” in the eyes of the broader culture!! First Assyria abused them, then Babylon defeated them, destroying their proud city and dismantling their temple – finally leading them off into captivity, exile and slavery!!
Ever feel like the words “chosen” or “elected” have a hollow ring to them somehow? One failure after another, mistakes galore, problems, difficulties, rejected and even ignored by others… your spiritual and personal self-concept completely dismantled?
I read these wonderful words today originally spoken by God’s prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel (but let them speak to you personally and let them also perhaps be God’s word to the group of God’s people you are a part of)…
“The LORD called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name… He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.” And now the LORD speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him… He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49.1-6 NLT)
The Lord has a purpose for you! He has a mission for your church! Regardless of how you feel right now, He can and will fulfill it! Try this one on for size in the New Testament (and observe is was spoken first and foremost to a church, but is more often than not applied to us personally)… “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in [or “among”] you will bring it completion at the day of Jesus Christ!” (Philippians 1:7) Hey, more is being accomplished than you imagine!! Take heart!!
Coffee With The Lord 