Articles and thoughts by Steve Green.
To Be Chosen
May 15th, 2008Have you every have one of those uneasy playground experiences where members of two teams were being chosen for a game? Self-appointed captains stood opposite the group of anxious participants, sizing up each one, selecting the best candidates who would ensure victory.
There were the confident ones who always got picked first. They had no worries. Their athletic prowess assured them of a top spot in any contest. Then there were the others who looked longingly at the captains, hoping to appear useful and be of some value to the team.
I wondered what it was like to always be chosen first. Those few had a relaxed and confident demeanor. The truth of the matter is, the captains usually had a pretty good idea of how each kid played. I mean, the reason some got picked first is that they really were better than the others. And the reason the rest of us squirmed under the scrutiny of the captains was that deep down we knew we were not as good as we would like to be.
In the course of time we try to find our niche; something that we are good at. Our goal is to be recognized as capable and welcomed by those who see our value. One of the most significant events in life is being chosen by someone to be a mate. At the beginning of the process, both people try to make a good impression and are on their best behavior. To be chosen is an awesome thing. To have someone love us is amazing. Eventually, however, the good impression fades and we realize that we have chosen a real person, complete with the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly!
The greatest gift I ever received from Marijean was when she looked me straight in the eyes, knowing everything about me; the foolish, the shameful, the sinful and the broken, and said, “I still chose you.” There are no words to describe such an act.
The only thing that surpasses that gift is God’s own choosing of us. Ephesians 1:4 says that “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” That is truly remarkable! Imagine. God knew every detail of our fallenness, every failure, every corruption of our hearts even before we came to be. Still, he chose us in Christ to be adopted into his family and to be given the full rights of sons and daughters. It’s one thing to chose someone based on limited information, for that is all we have of one another. Yet doesn’t it stagger the mind to think that with full awareness, the One who sees beyond our fig leaves and is not impressed by our PR, still would chose us as His own? That kind of love is transforming. No wonder Paul prayed that the believers in Ephesus would “have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,” and that they would be filled with all the fullness of God.
In this life there will still be anxious moments of uncertainty and insecurity when we might not be chosen by others. But where it really matters, in things eternal and lasting, we need to remember that the One who knows us best, loves us most. He chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world.
13 Comments »
Steve, I love the analogy. So true. Be well my friend. Can’t wait to see you, the team and MJ in June.
Jeff
Comment by Jeff - Seattle — May 15, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
Glory! Thanks Steve for the wonderful picture of unconditional love of our Father. Brings to mind the old hymn:
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
Comment by Guy Peters — May 16, 2008 @ 6:02 am
Dear Steve,
I so appreciate this enriching journal entry.As youth and young people call it,the “in-crowd”most of us were never in.Rich,popular and those who are athletic sure they are but those who they see as having imperfections and who do not dress as they do,speak as they speak,perhaps do not have girl or boy friends and so forth.Thank God we serve a God who is “…no respecter of persons..”and who knew us “…before the foundation of the world..”with all our flaws and weaknesses and frailties He still chose us for Himself.Praise God.Phil.1:6 speaks loud and clear to my heart that God is no where near finish with us till we reach “Heavens shores.”
I will be praying that God will have His way and that He will bless this trip to Korea.I am praying that lives will be changed for eternity.That is what counts!!
In Christ Jesus,
YSIC~Ruth Nikiforovs
Comment by Ruth Nikiforovs — May 16, 2008 @ 6:48 am
What a beautiful reminder of the goodness of God and the perfect love of Our Savior demonstrated by His gift of salvation. On a personal note, I could not help but think of trying out for Poms in high school with my younger sister…what teenage girl doesn’t want to be popular. How crushing it was when my sister made the team and went on to be captain of Poms. But, the Lord used that experience to show me my gifts were in the fine arts and not in athletic ability, but only after many tears and exposing my true nature of envy and insecurity.
Somehow along the journey of the Christian faith, I came to understand the richness of being chosen by God and the mystery of predestination and election. It really altered how I viewed circumstances and disappointments, knowing that my
God is sovereign and has the whole world in His Hands. A great book besides the Bible to read on this is CHOSEN BY GOD, by RC Sproul.
Thanks, Steve and Marijean, for showing us what covenant relationship is like!
Love you in the Lord.
Comment by Natalie Kleefisch — May 16, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
Brother Steve, this is so true. In all my life, I have seen this to be constant proof, no matter if we stray, He is faithful to restore us from our state of brokenness, and it is through knowing Him that we find true fulfillment, we are on His team! Thank you for sharing this!
Comment by Carlos G. Santiago — May 16, 2008 @ 9:02 pm
Thank you for this article! What a beautiful illustration! God’s omniscience is mind boggling, but very special to believers in Christ…
Comment by Jonathan Abel — May 17, 2008 @ 8:46 am
Dear Steve Green,
We enjoy your music, ministry and outreach. May God - Lord Jesus Christ- continue to bless you and keep you.
May your quill never run dry.
Cheers and blessings,
Oralia and Michael
Comment by Oralia Garcia Dominic — May 17, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
Great illustration! I would add that God isn’t looking for heroes per se. As I remember from my youth, the kids who got chosen first were confident. The word “confident” literally means “with faith”. The question is: faith in what? Many of the obviously athletic kids had faith in themselves. But God is building a team of players who have faith in Him rather than in their abilities. In this way, God is glorified.
Comment by Jim Pemberton — May 17, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
As always, God has you speaking exactly what we all need to hear. Thank you for your faithfulness to Him, and being that willing vessel. Countless lives have been blessed and changed because of your obedience, and I know that mine has been most of all.
Lisa
Comment by Lisa — May 19, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
Steve,
I have appreciated your music and the message of your songs for many years. When I was in Phoenix at Bible College I interned at your Dads church. You gave a concert at my Seminary Graduation back in the 90’s (Western Seminary) And you and I were at our children’s graduation last Saturday (May 17) at Moody Bible Institute. My daughter is Heidi Gray and your son is Josiah Green. What a small world. Yes, chosen by our great God to be put into His family and to see our children walk with Him. What an awesome blessing.
Keep in touch.
God Bless - Mike
Comment by Pastor Mike Gray — May 20, 2008 @ 7:32 am
Dear Steve,
What a beautiful illustration of God’s love! I can personally relate-I remember that I was not chosen by my biological parents, as I was put in an orphanage at the age of 4. However, in God’s sovereign grace and bountiful blessings, in spite of myself-He chose me! While I could not be accepted by my earthly parents, God turned the tables completely around and chose me for Himself for all eternity! And I have known and cherished His love many years now now since I was a boy. Thank you Steve, for reminding us (and me!) that it is more important that we are chosen by Him, not because we’re good enough, just because of His unending grace. I have seen you in concert many times. Your gift of singing for Him has blessed me over the year more than I can say. And your music continues to be with me as I do quite a bit of driving. And I am assured of the same timeless refrain over and over again in your music-God loves us, He is majestic and beyond compare. What else can we do but praise Him! I hope you come to the Seattle area again. We last saw you herein Everret in 2006. May God bless you,Steve, and use you for the Kingdom as He has done for these many years. Ad Majorem Dei gloriam! Stay well my brother,
In Christ,
John Jacob
Comment by John Jacob — May 22, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Dear Steve- The Christian community has been blessed with your ministry in song and word. You have touched the lives of many with the worshipful music and your blog sharing truths of scripture has been a blessing. You association with Michael Card and others in the Nashville community is a blessing hopefully showing all Christians to work to see the kingdom of God advance upon the earth “as it is in heaven” May He continue to bless you!!!
Comment by Jeff George — August 10, 2008 @ 7:05 pm
Wow, great post. Really Great.
Comment by Cindy Farber — January 29, 2012 @ 3:54 pm