"I Have Chosen You"

Have you ever noticed that Christians really like their symbols? From necklaces to car ornaments to tattoos, people are pretty open with sharing their faith in some form of symbolic representation.  Based on my armchair observation, the two most popular symbols seem to be the fish (ichthys) and the cross.

As an English teacher, it's no secret that symbols are pretty important to me as well. Like everybody else, I like the idea of a symbol that represents my faith.  Over the years, I have thought about a variety of them, mostly phrases. For example, my son is partial to "I am second."  Someday (so he tells me), he wants to get that tattooed on his back. The Fruits of the Spirit are pretty important to me, but I am guessing they are for a variety of people.  Jeremiah 29:11 is also significant, and I wear a ring on my right hand with the verse engraved on it.  But again, that verse seems to be about as popular with the Christian masses as the fish is.  So, I have continued to seek something that represents the personal side of my faith, and today, I think I may have just found it.

"I have chosen you."

At least once in most people's lives, this phrase is true. On their wedding day, a bride and groom publicly avow: "Of all the people in the world with whom I could have chosen to spend the rest of my life, I choose you." 

What a feeling of peace, contentment, and fulfillment comes from this phrase.  For both the bride and groom, it means you know that you not only belong in this time and place with this person; you are also desired, chosen, selected from everyone else.

God also says that phrase, and means that phrase, for every single person who exists and has ever existed.

While there is a peace and affirmation in that phrase, there is also responsibility.  "I have chosen you," simply to not just exist, but to fulfill a purpose in this time and place that only you can fulfill.  

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul talks about the lengths he has chosen to go to in order to make sure that God's message is heard.  "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. to those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law(though I am no free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.  I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings" (19-23).

On the road to Damascus, God blinded Paul to get his attention and then said: "I have chosen you," and this is Paul's response.  Paul is not coerced.  He is not guilted into it.  He does not proceed to try to "pay God back."  Paul is overwhelmed with gratitude and a feeling of belonging that he can't even put into words.  In 2 Corinthians 9, he talks about how it is now his life's purpose to help anyone and everyone enter into the same kind of relationship with God.

Wow. Just wow.  Imagine if we all had the same attitude as Paul - to do whatever (and that means giving up reputation, personal comforts, traditions, etc) it takes just to make sure the message is delivered.

Of course, there is the danger for one to get sucked in to the worldliness of the environment in which one is witnessing.  I have seen it happen.  About fifteen years ago, a high school girl willingly infiltrated the seedier, drug-infused culture of high school  with the expressed intention of bringing others to Christ.  The result was that she ended up in an abusive relationship, which ultimately resulted in her becoming a single mother.  It has taken years for her to find her way back, but she is slowly getting there. So what went wrong? She had an expressed heart for God. It's hard to say, but it might be the fact that she was trying to orchestrate the circumstances versus allowing God to call the shots.

In order for one to have a "whatever it takes" attitude like Paul, s/he has to be truly alive in Christ in order to stay the course. A close relationship with Him is the only way to proceed; that means every breath and action originates from Him, not from our best intentions.

"I have chosen you." So why is this the phrase for me?

At its most basic, it is the daily encouragement I need to become the 2 Corinthians woman of faith that Paul described.  

Most days I feel like a failure.  I bet you can probably relate.  No matter how good my intentions, no matter how purposeful I am in making Christ the center of my life, I always, always fail.  I have a tendency to be negative.  When I feel as though God is ignoring me (which seems to be frequently), I am frustrated and impatient.  I have a horrible mouth. Any way that you interpret that phrase is probably true.  For a Type A, firstborn, such as myself, perfectionism is deadly, and failure, especially when it comes to personal character, opens the door for regret and self-reproach. And yet,

"I have chosen you." 

As much as I screw up, God picks me up and says, "Let's try again."  For every time I choose selfishness first, He says, "Look at me."  Every time I doubt my existence, He says, "You're the one. I have chosen you."

His grace is sufficient for me.

If You Want To Get Ahead, Quit Moving

For the first time in sixteen years-ish, this is the first time in a long time that I don't have to be anywhere. Starting with Tot Dock and Kinderball, we followed our kids' activities throughout high school. That chapter has now closed.

It should then follow that my husband and I should have more time on our hands. Should. However, we still find ourselves tumbling (sometimes, literally), exhausted, into bed. How can that be possible? We are still busy; it's just a different kind of busy. (And although I am loath to admit, we aren't as young as we used to be either. We get tired faster and have less endurance than we used to).

Even so, with this new stage of life, I feel a definite responsibility to get involved. Both Mike and I more or less put volunteer endeavors on hold while we were running after and alongside the kids to the high school finish. A few ideas concerning volunteer service have been percolating, and the other day, I followed up on one.

And I was shot down. Told "no thanks" even though an earlier conversation had led me to believe that my services might be useful and even appreciated.

I'm not going to lie. Initially, I was mildly peeved, a little taken aback, and a tad disappointed because I thought this was really something God wanted me to do. Not much, but enough that I shared by frustrations with a friend of mine. Her response got me to thinking: "Maybe God's giving you a breather to enjoy fall for once. . .after 20 years of sports."

The more I read, the more I live, and the more I grow in my faith, the more I understand the power and necessity of "abiding." The word itself means "to continue to be sure or firm; to endure. To remain in one place.  To wait patiently for." Therefore, abiding means patient and consistent prayer and Bible study. Equally important, abiding means just being silent and listening for God's voice.

"Abide in me, and I will abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4

It's no secret that the physical world in which we live is a direct inverse to the world that awaits us. In our day and age, we, as a society, value "busy."  From a very young age, kids are involved in organized activities, and parents pay and run right behind them.  Sports, church, civil organizations. . .they are all "good" choices.  I know; I have been there and done that.

However, the fact remains that it is all classified under the blanket term, "busy." There is no time to just "abide." Even when we have down time, we fill it with mind-numbing entertainment - phones, movies, music, etc  Enjoying silence, thinking deeply, and yes, abiding, is a foreign concept.

The bottom line is that the journey to fulfillment, purpose, joy, and most importantly, spiritual growth, begins when one sits down instead of takes a step. Abiding - in prayer and by listening - is the first step after welcoming Christ into your life. You have to spend time with Him - through prayer, Bible study, and silence - to develop a relationship with Him.

In that silence, God directs what He wants to have happen next.  It is our choice whether or not to obey. As we obey and continue to abide, a new door or window opens. . .and as we obey and move in the direction He asks, another door or window opens. . and the process continues.

When we don't obey and don't abide, we get off track and are frustrated. We spin our wheels and whine about our purposeless, exhausting, and unfulfilling lives. Our disobedience and busyness result in missed opportunities for God. Ultimately, we miss out on the blessings He has planned in advance for our lives and the lives of others.

As I sit in my chair on this beautiful fall evening, I am content to watch the hummingbirds chase one another across the yard. As a dragonfly lands on my chair, I watch the squirrels leap recklessly from tree to tree, and I can't help but think it's a metaphor for the life God intends for each of us.  This is not a waste of time; it's an investment.

As I ponder the door that recently closed, I am thankful for God's wisdom and the way He makes sure that I stay on the track He wants me to follow. He knows better than I where I can best serve Him, and I am humbled that He cares enough to intervene. I think I will hang out here a while longer and see what He has to say.

"God will give you the blessings you ask if you will not go any further without them; but His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into the marvelous understanding of Himself.  You will find that God has trusted you in the most intimate way possible, with an absolute silence, not of despair, but of pleasure because He saw that you could stand a bigger revelation" (Oswald Chambers).