Pride Of The Chosen. Being Chosen

Do not fall into this Trap

It is really easy to become Proud. It is really easy to become Prideful. Whenever you become chosen out of the obscurity of mere existence, and become "important," Whenever you receive a Position of Power, or Authority, over others, it is really easy to become Arrogant and Abusive. Ask a Politician. Ask a CEO. Ask a "Superstar" in Sports or Entertainment. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.". {John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton}

Lord Acton, expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887. Some say he was attempting to quote William Pitt the Elder, Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778, who said something similar in a speech to the UK House of Lords in 1770, "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it."

Oh it's easy to think about CEOs. It's easy to think about Politicians. The President, Kings, ETC. It's easy to think about the Rich having a "God Complex." Being filled with Pride and Boastful. But what about Children of God? What about God's Chosen people? This is what we will be talking about in this Three Part Series entitled, The Pride of the Chosen..

Today we are going to focus on what this means. What does it mean to be Chosen of God? Chosen BY God Himself. This is an awesome thing. Think about it. In the Span of eternity, in the history of the Earth, of all the Billions of people that have ever lived. People who do this type of Study claim the number is around 108 Billion people. How they know this? I have no idea, but this is a huge number. Out of those 108 Billion, and of all the people that have yet to come, there is only one YOU. There has never been, nor will there ever be, another you.

Why are you the way you are? God made you this way.

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" {Psalm 139:13-17}

That's right, God MADE you the way you are. You are 6 feet tall, 5'7." You are Blonde with Blue Eyes, Brown Hair and Eyes. You are Black, White, Male, Female, whatever you are, you were written in God's Book, and "in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.."

Why? God knows you from the beginning of time. {Ephesians 1:4} He knows who you are before your Mommy and Daddy even meet.

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." {Romans 8:29-30}

So out of all those 108 Billion, or so, people, before they were all born, lived, and died, God knew who you were and what you would do. He CHOSE to create YOU the way you are for a REASON. He foreknew you, and so He set up a Destiny. A purpose and a plan for your life.

Now this is where you come in. After He did all this, after you reach the age of accountability, and or, in His time, God calls you. Now He can call you as a Child, or He can call you as an old person. Age matters not when it comes to God. Look at Elizabeth and Zechariah. Both were well up in age, when God called them to give birth to and raise John the Baptist. The Twelve ranged from 24 to 33.

God can use Children, like the little Child Jesus called to Himself to give a lesson on humility and faith, or an old Man like Noah. It is God's Time and for God's Purpose that He calls you out. But this is where you come in. You can say "Yes" or "No."

If you say "Yes," then God Justifies you. This is a time of Preparation. A time when God equips you with the knowledge, Gifts, and tools, you will need to do whatever God needs you to do. Then comes the ultimate power and glory. He glorifies you.

Now something happens between the Call, and the equipping. We go from Joe Shmoe, to someone filled with the Spirit of God. Exuding Power and Anointing. Remember when the Disciples came back to Jesus all excited they had all this power?

"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." {Luke 10:17-20}

You see, Peter was a Fisherman. Matthew a Tax Collector and most likely not all that well liked. All the Disciples were normal, average, everyday people. Then all of a sudden, they were chosen by Jesus and giving all this power. They started to become arrogant. They started to become Prideful. Look what we can do.

Jesus had to remind them, that it is NOT because of all the power, nor is it because God chose them out to do these things, but rather that God chose them to be Saved, that they should rejoice and be happy. However, we have evidence that they still didn't get this.

"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." {Matthew 18:1-4}

You see, we think of being great as one with Power and control. God sees great as one who is obedient, and faithful in all things. He sees great as one, as a child towards their Parent, that question and doubt, NOTHING. They simply love, trust, and believe. They simply ARE Children. Pure and innocent..

We think of Great as Lording over others. That we should sit on a Throne and Rule. Salome, Mother of James and John, came to Jesus and asked Him to allow James to sit on a throne on one side, and John on the other. She wanted them in the Highest Positions in Heaven, after all, John is the "Disciple that Jesus Loved?" So it makes sense that He would want these two to Rule with Him. Right? As you could guess, this did not sit well with the other ten. "And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren." However, this is NOT as Jesus tells us, is the pathway to become great.

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." {Matthew 20:25-28}

We will discuss this concept more in Part Three..The point is, we should rejoice in the Fact, in the mere Fact, that we were Chosen. God chose to call us out of the world and to join us with Jesus Himself. He chose us onto life itself. He chose us to be His own Children.

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."{Romans 8:17}

We should remember where it is we came from. Where it is that we were heading to. We should remember that we are not worthy, nor is there anything we could ever do to become worthy, of being in the position God put us in. Making us equal to Jesus Himself.

We didn't earn it. We didn't impress Him so much He chose to "promote us." We didn't work hard enough. We did NOTHING. It is simply the Love of God that Saved us. His Grace, His Mercy. His love. In this we should not find Pride, but humility. In this we should not become arrogant, but compassionate. Think of all those that will never be where we are. Think of those that think they have it all, and in the end, will lose their very Soul. We would be with them, had it not be for the Love of God. In this rejoice, and be glad..

In Part Two, we will talk about why some seem to have all this Power, while yet others seem not to. Ever wonder why it seems that some people just have it a little easier, or seems like God Blesses them daily, and yet, you seem to have difficulties and struggles, even though you are a Child of God? How can Moses part the Red Sea, and you can not seem to get out of the pits of life? There is an answer.

Have you been called out? Do you feel that pull of the Spirit? That is God leading you to Jesus. That is God Choosing YOU. All you have to do is accept the call. Say "Yes." Get to know the Jesus God is leading you to..

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}