1 Corinthians 9: 25
The athlete knows how to draw from focused inner strength in order to win the crown; for them all their effort translates into a mere moment celebrated by a fading wreath of honor. For us to win your faith is of imperishable value! (Mirror Bible)
Who has chosen you?
In group structures, no matter the size, there are the chosen ones. It is simply a function of interpersonal dynamics and human behavior. More often than not, performance and ability are not the primary reasons for the choices made; the one doing the choosing also uses likeability, politics, the goal for the group, etc. Often, no matter how hard you work, it won’t be you. Sadly, you have no control over the matter.
The difference when laboring in the kingdom, you don’t have to work to be chosen. It does not matter what you have done, what you are doing, or what you have planned to do. It does not matter if you have skills or not, or if you are intelligent or not. It does not matter if you are male or female. You don’t have to worry about being chosen.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Amplified Bible AMP)
Being chosen is only the beginning. God has given you promises and gifts as well. You can access the promises and be effective in using the gifts if you spend time with the Lord in prayer, study, meditation, and worship.
Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him And brings him before great men. (Amplified Bible AMP)
Don’t spend the time with the Lord, so men/women of influence in the secular world will choose you also, or for those in your spiritual world, to hold you in high esteem. Both will fade. There is always someone else. Do it to because that is why God chose you.
Ephesians 1:4-5 God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him. 5 He destined us to be adopted as His children through the covenant Jesus the Anointed inaugurated in His sacrificial life. This was His pleasure and His will for us. (The Voice TVT)
Spend the time with the Lord because you want to hear “Well done, My good and faithful servant, you have gained My rest (Matthew 25:23).” Here is another wonderful about the Kingdom. There will be someone else. God wants it that way. He wants everyone to come to Him. However, He will always choose you, because when He chooses you, it lasts forever.
Please agree with me as I pray:
Father, I thank You for choosing me and welcoming me into Your Kingdom. It’s a wonderful feeling. Father, I did not care so much about being accepted by the organizations I was a part of or by my job. I ran to the church when I should have been running to You. I repent for allowing negative experiences, in the body of Christ, to affect my joy. Sometimes the “organized church” can be politically driven and influenced by individual desires and under the table interactions. I repent for any part I played. Thank you for transforming my mind. I am so grateful that behavior is not acceptable in Your Kingdom. In the world, they say, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” In the Kingdom it’s both. Every Christian knows You, that’s not an individual advantage. I decide if I want to be fit for Your use. Being in Your presence, studying Your word, and laying aside every weight and sin are the things I can choose to do. I will do them. I want to hear You say, “Well done, Pam. You have been a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. You may enter into My joy.” …
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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.