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<\/a>What a week we\u2019ve had! I had to laugh as I got around to day 4 of this lesson. I thought to myself, \u201cWow! Does God seriously love me this much! This is over-the-top, crazy kind of love.\u201d I wrote this study and still was amazed at these beautiful words of endearment we studied this week.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I want to land on one idea from all that you learned this week. And that word is \u201cchosen.\u201d<\/p>\n
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When it comes to relationships, there are some where we don\u2019t get to choose.<\/p>\n
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We didn\u2019t get to choose our parents. We were born into a family and didn\u2019t have a say in who our parents would be.<\/p>\n
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We didn\u2019t get to choose our children. Unless you\u2019ve adopted (which some of you have), our children are born to us without an opportunity for us to say \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n
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One relationship in which we get to choose is our spouse or the one we love. So why do we choose a particular person to spend our lives with? We probably have some criteria for this choice. A few may include:<\/p>\n
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- That they are a good friend<\/li>\n
- That they accept you for who you are<\/li>\n
- That they have the same interests or values<\/li>\n
- That they value marriage<\/li>\n
- That they share your goals<\/li>\n
- That they have carved a niche in our hearts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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These are just a few examples of why you might choose someone to build a relationship with.<\/p>\n
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In 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NIV), Peter says that we are \u201cGod\u2019s elect\u2026who have been chosen\u2026\u201d<\/em> But here\u2019s the thing, when did God choose us?<\/p>\n
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- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) tells us that \u201cfrom the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n
- Ephesians 1:4 (NIV) reminds us that God \u201cchose us in <\/em>him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n
- Even Jesus told His disciples (that includes you and me) that they didn\u2019t choose Him, but that He chose them to go and bear fruit in John 15:16.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Before you or I were even born, God chose us to part of His Kingdom.<\/p>\n
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But here is the astonishing thing about God. He continues to choose us when we don\u2019t choose Him. If this were not the case, Jesus wouldn\u2019t have gone to the cross. You see, \u201cGod demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.\u201d<\/em> (Romans 5:8 – NIV)<\/p>\n
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God continues to choose us when:<\/p>\n
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- We fall short<\/li>\n
- We are unfaithful<\/li>\n
- We fall into temptation<\/li>\n
- We turn away from Him<\/li>\n
- We seek other gods<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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And what\u2019s more, God lavishes us with love. 1 John 3:1 (NIV) is a great reminder for us. \u201cHow great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
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So you might think that all of these terms of endearment in 1 and 2 Peter are over-the-top. But isn\u2019t that just like our Father? He wants us to know for certain that He chose you and me. And when God looks at you and me, this is what God sees:<\/p>\n
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- His elect<\/li>\n
- His ransomed and redeemed<\/li>\n
- His living stones<\/li>\n
- His spiritual house<\/li>\n
- His holy and royal priesthood<\/li>\n
- His holy nation<\/li>\n
- His own possession<\/li>\n
- His people<\/li>\n
- His brotherhood of believers<\/li>\n
- His called<\/li>\n
- His blessed<\/li>\n
- His beloved<\/li>\n
- His partakers of divine nature<\/li>\n
- His chosen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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As part of any relationship, there must be growth. Growth in ourselves as individuals, as well as in partnership with our chosen one. It\u2019s no different in our relationship with God.<\/p>\n
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- We must make the choice every day to draw closer to Him<\/li>\n
- We must make every effort to be more like Him (to be holy)<\/li>\n
- We must develop our faith and trust in Him<\/li>\n
- We must bear spiritual fruit<\/li>\n
- We must choose to believe that we are His chosen, beloved daughter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Another element to making a choice in a relationship is the purpose for getting into a relationship. Why do we choose a spouse or a friend or a child? I suspect there are plenty of reasons, but here is a short list.<\/p>\n
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- For love<\/li>\n
- For support<\/li>\n
- For companionship<\/li>\n
- For encouragement<\/li>\n
- For acceptance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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God chose you for a purpose as well. Colossians 1:16 reminds us that we were created by, through and for God. So why would God create you and me? What is our purpose?<\/p>\n
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- Ephesians 1:4 (NIV) reminds us that God \u201cchose us in <\/em>him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) tells us that \u201cfrom the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n