April 7

Day 24: Chosen

Our newest grandson was born yesterday. We got the news. I cried.

He is perfect, the delivery went perfect, and our entire clan is filled with joy. He joins his three older cousins, and our "quiver" has gained a precious new arrow (Psalm 127:5, for you Bereans out there.)

His great grandfather said to me yesterday, "You sure know how to make boys. Our family normally produces girls." I will assume he knows I really had nothing to do with it. And I'll assume he knows he has two other grandsons (who share some of his DNA, if not his last name.)

Deb and I did not necessarily choose our children, or our grandchildren, but we could not have chosen better. Thus our standard line: "They are perfect and wonderful in every way."

Our newest grandson (like his cousins) did not get to choose me as his grandfather either. Pity the lad.

Our God, on the other hand, is a chooser. He chooses some, and not others. And sometimes, His choices do not seem (to us) to be logical, or orderly, or fair. Sometimes He chooses the very last kid in line.

God chose Abraham to be the progenitor. Abraham was previously an idol-worshipper. And he was super old.

God chose the Israelites to be His people. They were not the most impressive lot.

In 1 Chronicles 28 David recounts how God chose him to be king, though David didn't even qualify to inherit leadership of his own father's household. However, David was not chosen to build the Temple in Jerusalem. God chose someone else instead.

Solomon was not David's firstborn son. On paper, Solomon was not the logical candidate. He did not qualify. But God chose Solomon to be the next king. God chose Solomon to build the new Temple.

God's choices don't always make sense to us. But God doesn't choose someone just so He can say He made a choice. God chooses someone, anyone, for a purpose.

In this present season, many of us are remembering the story of an Old Testament queen. God chose Esther for a purpose, an endeavor for which she did not feel capable, for a desperation move that came with incredible personal risk on several levels.

Her custodial parent, Mordecai, was chosen by God to convince Esther to take on the challenge for which she was singularly chosen. His well known line from chapter 4:

"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

I'll cut to the chase.

We Jesus-followers have each been chosen. We've been chosen for a purpose - "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

We enjoy God individually and personally, and in community.

We glorify God individually and personally, and in community...and publicly.

This leaves me asking myself the question, even with our present threats and limitations:

How will I glorify God publicly today?

Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau