"CHOSEN"

"Choice" "Choose" "Chose" "Chosen"  hmm


Yes, today I saw a post on Facebook and it had this statement...
'People do not just slip into Christianity; faith in Jesus must be 'chosen.'
that was by Charles Stanley
He is one of my favorite straight shooter, clear preachers of God's Word. He never attempts to give me 'what I want to hear' but gives me what the Lord says... and I need to hear. I digress...
But the word Chosen... just zapped me... is not ALL of life a choice?? by someone or ourselves? Some good choices, some not so good? 


In the beginning, God 'chose' to create me, then set me in the family that he did. He knew me in my mother's womb, and before.
   My mother 'chose' to keep me. Thanks mom!


I 'chose' to date a certain fella named "Bud."
We 'chose' to marry each other. (I think now, twas by Divine appointment) :-) 
It was our 'choice' as to when, and where, we would be married.
Because family had 'chosen' to take me to church as a child, I insisted it must be in church. We 'chose' which one.
We 'chose' where to live.
We 'chose' to stick! Thru thick & thin, for 58 years at this date.   etc etc etc


I 'chose' to get up this morning later than ususal.  I 'chose' to drink half & half coffee today. I'll save my favorite for later or another day.
We 'chose' where we would go on vacation.
We 'chose' what we consider fun, and the use of our time.


We 'choose' the things we will do in life.
Drink, carouse, swear, use vile language, be unkind to someone, wear suggestive clothing, and the list is quite long.  OR I can 'choose to abstain from some things, I can 'choose' to be kind, I can 'choose' not to tempt or be suggestive in my dress or language. I can  'choose' to learn some new words to be able to convey my message...    WHY??
Many reasons, but mainly...
Because after all the things & people in life we are subjected to growing up..
ALL of life now becomes our "choice."


The Good Lord did not create robots, he created people in his image... to think, to choose, to feel, to create, to love and yet we became marred by our own 'choosings.'


Yet we've been 'chosen' by him from the beginning of time. He chases after us... in so many ways. Loves us like no one else ever will.


He offers us a clean slate, his Love, and help in this life and when it's over, eternal life with Him. That too, is a gift, which we can either 'choose' to accept or reject once offered.
  We 'choose' sooooo many things... but now that I've 'chosen' Him... he is still allowing me to make 'choices' as my heavenly Father.
   And like any Father he will let me 'choose'... I can 'choose' to be conformed to His Image and Transformed in my mind, OR not.. 
and if I'm not making good 'choices' He will step in and discipline. (Parenting 101 from the Lord, read the book) :-)
   I can 'choose' to read His manual for living, the Bible, and follow the directions, OR not.
But! it tells of his great love and care and how to do this thing called life that he designed & made in the first place. Why wouldn't I want to study the Bible? alone or with others? and It also warns of a time of accountability.. like any good parent.


   I can 'choose' to pray & talk to my Lord in many ways..in prayer, song, hymns, OR not.
I can 'choose' to listen to Him, thru his word the Bible, or preaching or just some person he's sent my way OR not.
  I can 'choose' to take care of myself & my health by the 'choices' I make, OR not. And you know what all those 'choices' might be, without me listing anything about health... don't we?
  I can 'choose' to go and gather with the eternal family, called church, and worship together as HE desires me too, OR not. Seems like a lot of the heavenly army 'chooses' to be AWOL.
  I can 'choose' to change by his heavenly help & word... & be transformed into the person 'abba Father' desires, OR not.
  I can 'choose' to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as he directs me to Jesus & His ways  OR not.
  I can 'choose' to be giving of my time, heart,  gifts, abilities, finances, to meet the needs of others and also to enlarge the kingdom, OR not.
 
As I've aged... I have come to realize that life is not all about me, but about God and living the good life as one of his children, and being a good neighbor to all around me, serving others and inviting people into the family of God.  In the scheme of eternity, what will really count and where am I storing up my treasure?


  Yes I still have difficulties in life... we all do. But this life is not all there is... it is the classroom for a better world and life in eternity. We 'choose' where. 
  
Life at times is tough!! And at times things go sort of smoothly. All because of 'choices' we make or not... I love one saying of Dr. Phil on TV.. and it is so clear... he asks people... "How's that working for ya?"  Seems like most stuff we try 'ain't' working... Been there done that... and I KNOW now...
   Some lessons I've learned by God's 'choices' for me. Looking back. I can see now...
   Some, by my own.. good or bad 'choices.' OOPS why on earth did I do that dumb thing?
   Some, by the 'choices' of others, like parents, grandparents, friends, pastors... and on.
   We tend to lump good or bad on one side or the other... but it all works for our good... as the Lord is desiring to have us freely 'choose' to love and worship him.. or if we are one of the King's kids already, he's working out our likeness into his likeness..
"like Father, like son/daughter?"  yeah that applies.  
   By 'choosing' God's forgiveness, salvation and life with him and his way.... there truly is a joy that passes all understanding.
   Jesus makes it all possible! Jesus is THE way! THE truth! THE life...  I "CHOOSE" Jesus.


What's your "Choice?"