Chosen by God

Our identity is not determined by who chooses us in this world—the team that accepts us, the relationship that works out, the opportunity we receive, or the recognition we gain. As children of God, we belong to Him. We are His treasured possession, called out of darkness and into His light. Remembering that we are chosen changes the way we see ourselves and our circumstances. Earthly disappointments may still hurt, but they no longer define our worth. God’s choice of us is rooted in His love, His purpose, and His eternal plan. Highlights: Our deepest sense of belonging comes from being chosen by God Earthly rejection does not change our identity as God’s beloved children God calls us His special possession and invites us into His family Staying grounded in Scripture helps us remember who we are in Christ God’s plans and blessings are greater than the opportunities we may miss Join the Conversation Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!  Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Chosen by God By Alexis A. Goring Bible Reading:“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”—1 Peter 2:9 NIV Have you ever struggled with a sense of belonging because you did not feel chosen? Most people want to be chosen. Whether chosen to play with others when we were children, chosen to be asked to the prom by our high school crush, chosen to attend the college of our choice, chosen to marry the person of our dreams, chosen for a job we worked hard for or chosen for other things we want out of life, the desire to be chosen is a universal feeling and part of life on earth. But do we know that the Creator of the Universe chose us before we chose Him (Ephesians 1:4-5)? God chose us to be part of His Family. Since He is King of the Universe, that means we as His children are a special kind of royalty. We are daughters and sons of the Eternal King. But how often do we forget this Biblical truth and act like we don’t know our true identity in Jesus Christ? I know I tend to be forgetful of this, and I struggle to maintain a heavenly perspective because it is easy to be consumed by how our world programs us to think. This is why it is so important to stay grounded in God’s Word. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:9 that we are a people chosen by God. We are special to Him. God doesn’t just choose you; He transforms you as He calls you out of darkness into His wonderful light. When you choose to give your life to Jesus Christ, then you have passed from death to life (John 5:24). You now have the hope of eternal life after Jesus returns to Earth to take His children home to Heaven. But while we are still living on Earth, it is important to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and not be bogged down by what we go through in this world. Our experiences on Earth shape us. I know what it is like to not be chosen for the team, not chosen by the man whom I thought I wanted to marry, not chosen by the dream employer whom I would love to work for, or not chosen for so many other of my heart’s desires. But instead of worrying about these missed opportunities to be chosen, it helps me to remember that the King of the Universe chose me and you first. And He offers us a life better than our wildest dreams when we enter Heaven. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (GW), “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” God has amazing things in store for His chosen people when we step into eternity with Him. But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t also have good plans for us while we are living on Earth. God can still answer our prayers and bless us beyond our wildest dreams, and help the right people to choose us. We just need to pray for His will to be done in our lives. He wants to bless you on earth, too, though those blessings pale in comparison to what He has in store for us when we start eternity in His Kingdom. Next time you feel disappointed or sad about not being chosen by a person or company, or an opportunity here on Earth, look up to the sky and imagine God smiling down at you, saying, “I still choose you, my child.” Let that Biblical truth marinate in your mind. Write it down in your prayer journal. Post it on your mirror so you can remind yourself every day that God chose you. Soak in His pure, unconditional love for you and remember who you are in Jesus Christ. In closing, I would like you to listen to these two songs: “Remember Who You Are” sung by Crystal Lewis. And “I Still Want You” sung by Tramaine Hawkins. Song of Reflection #1: “Remember Who You Are” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it HERE.  Song of Reflection #2: “I Still Want You” by Tramaine Hawkins. Listen to it HERE.  Intersecting Faith & Life: How does it feel to know you are chosen by God? Further Reading:John 15:16Isaiah 41:9Colossians 3:12Philippians 2:5-81 Thessalonians 1:4-5 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.