Called or Chosen

November 2020

The chosen are taking flight! Like the old Rocketeer movie, there are people strapping their rocket jet packs to their backs and emerging to the skies in flight.

“For many are called but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 (ESV)

The deepest longing of my heart is to be one of the “few.” Ever since I can remember, even as a young child, I would wave my hands up to Heaven and say “Choose me! Choose me!” Although I didn’t understand what I was asking for at the time, I still asked to be chosen by the Lord. I desire to be chosen, not just called. I want to be a chosen friend of God that He trusts and commissions to do His will in the earth. I want to be in union with the Father and collaborate with Him to see His purpose be fulfilled.

Choose me Lord! As Your eyes run to and fro among the earth, may Your gaze stop on me. Hand pick me among the thousands. I want to be a chosen one! I want to be a vessel for You to flow through. None of me and all of You. As I lay my selfish desires at Your feet daily, and sometimes minute by minute, make me into a pure and holy conduit for You to flow through. May people not see me, but You, as I am joined in union with You. Mesh me, squish me, blend me, crush me until I am molded into something You can use; until all that comes out is You. Choose me!

To be chosen, one needs to surrender and be vulnerable enough to be rejected. Like being picked to play ball at elementary recess, we have to realize it doesn’t matter in what order we get picked as long as we get in the game. Rejection is a tactic or illusion the liar uses to get you out of the game. Being part of the game in any facet still means that you were, in fact, chosen to play. Even when it feels like you’re being chosen last or you sit the bench the whole game. In His game we call life and life everlasting, all who surrender and sign up get to play. There are no first, lasts, or in between spots. Rejection and bench-sitters don’t exist.

The problem is that many get the call to be a part of the game and wait to be chosen in line, but they give up before they get to play. Waiting to be chosen to play a game was never my favorite thing to do as a child. Being scrawny, the boys didn’t want me on their team. Even though I often got picked last, I didn’t give up in the waiting. I stuck with it, and eventually, I was chosen. I may not have been any good, but I sure had fun.

If you are waiting and you feel like giving up… don’t! Stay in the game. Many are called, but few are chosen. Don’t miss out on being chosen because you gave up too soon. Hang in there! Stay holding onto Jesus! Even if you’re hanging on by a thread, don’t give up! What God says is true and He is faithful to complete His good work in and through you as you dive deeper into His heart.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.” John 15:16 ESV

In the waiting, it gets hot. What’s inside bubbles to the top so it can be sifted off. If you don’t believe me, try standing in line at Disney World in the heat of summer for hours with screaming, hungry, tired kiddos just to enjoy an extremely overpriced short ride. What’s inside, will come out under pressure. Like a pot of water boiling bubbles to purify, so in the waiting we can allow Him to heat things up, purify, and mold us into something He can use. He chooses those He can trust/use. The lower we go, the higher He can use us. The less of self, the more of Jesus. When things get long and hot, Jesus should come out of us as we stay connected to Him.

You can see the difference in the chosen ones taking flight in this hour. They look, act, and talk like Jesus. They say and do only what they hear the Father say and do. Therefore, people see Him and not the person. The chosen ones desire not to be seen, but for people to see Jesus in them. They are aware they have nothing in their own power to offer, but with Jesus in them will flow His power through them. They are so intertwined with Him and lovesick beyond human comprehension, they ooze His love. They have a different look, a glow, and people are noticing the change in the atmosphere when they are around.

Chosen ones carry the glory with them wherever they go. Signs, wonders and miracles are normal in their world. Telling people about Jesus is like breathing to them, they have nothing else to talk about but Him. They are not only taking flight in this hour, they are gaining the attention of people around them and this is the time the Lord is going to use them. Like a superhero movie for Jesus, they are coming out of the shadows in His power and might.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 ESV

Chosen ones have been hidden, some self inflicted and some by God's design to protect and grow them. But, now is the day and time they are not only emerging, but taking flight. Step back and watch the ones burst forth and soar. Many will try to stop them, but these love-sick passion riders, strapped with rocket jet packs for Jesus, may pause for a moment to regroup, but will not let others' opinions stop them. This group of chosen rocketeers are a fierce bunch—UNSTOPPABLE ONES!

If you feel this is you, I pray the Lord's favor over you and the grace to walk out the commission before you. Strength shall be yours as you bust out of the shell and emerge to do His will. Many may not even know your name, but they don’t have to, they know His. Jesus shall be glorified in and through this earth and now is the time for you to burst forth and not look back. It’s busting out time!

If you have no idea what I’m talking about but have a hunger for something more—ask Jesus to come in and change you, make you a new creation, wash you clean, fill you with His spirit to overflowing, and place a burning passion for Him inside you. Begin by seeking more of Him in a quiet place alone, talking with Jesus and reading His Word (The Bible), and allow Him to transform you.

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 14:2 ESV

For some, it may feel or sound selfish, but the Word is clear. There is a divide between the called and the chosen (Matthew 22:14), the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), the ones with excess oil and the ones without (Matthew 25). I don’t know about you, but everyday for the rest of my life, I want to continue to wave my hands to Heaven and say, “Choose me! Choose me!” And when He tells me what to do, I go full force with my rocket jetpack flying with and for Him.

He has chosen you before the foundations of the world to do the work He created you to do on this earth. You have everything you need inside you to fly. Remember that you are not a mistake, forgotten, or chosen last. You are at the forefront of His mind. You are a royal priesthood, a child of the King. What feels like waiting and waiting and waiting will now turn into dancing, rejoicing, and restoration as you fall deeper in love with Jesus and abide in His love.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 ESV

Let’s be a people that continue to petition Heaven by crying out, “Choose us!” May we surrender to His will in all that we do, say, and act until all people see in us is Him. That every choice we make will be based on being commissioned instead of selfish desire. That He will see us worthy of being chosen, and not just called.

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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love” Ephesians 1:3-4 ESV

“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me.” Isaiah 43:10 ESV

“To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 2:14 ESV

“But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in Him.” 1 John 2:27 ESV

“I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He.” John 13:19 ESV

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you,” 1 Thessalonians 1:4 ESV

“Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him enough? There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me. Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones. Let me rejoice in the joy of Your people; let me praise You with those who are Your heritage.” Psalm 106:1-5 NLT