Picked, chosen, and most of all, wanted...

 

 

 

 

"He came to give hope to the hopeless, joy to the joyless, and life to the lifeless..."

Most of us can remember when we were younger, playing some kind of sport either in school or outside of school. Quite often on "pick up" games, sides were chosen by popularity or skill. If you had skills like Adrian Peterson, you were picked first. If you were someone who liked to participate, but were not gifted with skills, you often one of the last to go. If you were one of the last picked, you might feel you were not wanted very much.

Even though we cannot change how we are chosen for things, we can determine how we choose. As we go through life, we are given the opportunity to choose many important things. Our college or tech school, our career, our spouse, even where we live. However, by far and away the most important thing we can choose is if we will accept the greatest gift ever offered.

When I say the greatest gift, I mean this - in the midst of all the wonderful things God provides for us, one gift really out from the rest. It is the gift of life. It is the gift of true life that came in the form of His son that can set us free from our sinful nature. It is the gift which gives hope to the hopeless, joy to the joyless and life to the lifeless. It is the greatest gift ever given, and it is given with only one condition - that we accept it.

What does this gift have to do with choosing sides? Simply this - the good news is we have been chosen. Not waiting on the bench for others to be taken first - we are all taken in first place. Whether we choose to accept God's precious gift or not, His offer is for us. With all our flaws, with our sinful nature, with all the disbelief we show from time to time, God still offers us this amazing gift. We have been chosen to receive it - all we need do is accept.
 
In these days of uncertainty, of troubles and turbulence, it is a wonderful feeling to know we have indeed been chosen. Chosen to receive the greatest gift of all time. All we need do is accept it, and the abundant life that goes with it.