CoffeeWithFather

1 Peter 2:
5 You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual temple,
to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. He will accept those sacrifices through Jesus Christ.
6 The Scripture says:
"I will put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem. Everything will be built on this important and precious rock. Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed."
7 This stone is worth much to you who believe. But to the people who do not believe,
"the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
8 Also, he is "a stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall."
They stumble because they do not obey what God says, which is what God planned to happen to them.
9 But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession.
You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10 At one time you were not a people, but now you are God's people.
In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God's mercy.
New Century Bible

Who are the people of the Bible? The people of the book are the chosen people.
Many people think that the Bible runs references on every person on planet earth.  Not so.
I hear this question over and over again, "When Cain left Adam and Eve and went down to the land of Nod and knew his wife, where did she come from?"
Don't be confused. God is keeping a record of the chosen race; that's what this book is about.  It is not about every person.

Some people living from the time of Abraham to the time of Christ are part of the chosen generation. So the Bible records their history.
From Christ on is the church.  As believers, we are part of that royal priesthood.  We are a peculiar people.
You did not choose him; he chose you.

Ephesians 1:4 says:
According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: as he has chosen us.

The word chosen is in aorist tense indicating that God acted by himself. He didn't go before a board of directors to make his selection; He chose us.

To tell you the truth I wasn't worthy to be chosen. I should have been one left on the outside, because I was alone and idle. I was a sinner, too.
But I heard the voice of Jesus saying there is work to do.
He came looking for me. I didn't know the shape I was in until I met him.

Do you know that you've been chosen by God?
You don't have to walk anywhere with a hung down head thinking you are nothing and that nobody loves you.
There is One that loves you so much that he chose you.
Your voice, your strength, your home, your job, and your knowledge are all gifts from Him.
What you have, God gave you.
What you know God taught you.
Where you are God brought you.

Thank God, I am chosen by Him!

adapted from Frank Ray, 365 Days in the Presence of God: Daily Devotions from the Sermons of Dr. Frank Ray, 2004

Prayer:
Loving heavenly Father,
thank You so much that You have chosen me.
Thank You that You chose me just as I was
and that since then You have been changing me on the inside
so that I reflect Your glory,
and so that I bring You honour!
Hallelujah for Your love shown to me in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Amen.