Chosen!

“But you are 

A CHOSEN RACE, 

A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, 

A HOLY NATION, 

A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, 

that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, 

but now you are the people of God; 

you had not received mercy, 

but now you have received mercy.”
(1 Peter 2:9,10)

Dear Friend,

I wrote "Chosen" years ago while studying the above passage from 1 Peter. The word "chosen" never ceases to thrill me!

(From "My Worth is Not in What I Own by Keith Getty and Graham Kendrick)

CHOSEN

           We have all experienced it at one time or another—not being chosen.  Almost everyone has the story of gym class.  We were chosen last because we HAD to be taken.  Maybe you experienced not being chosen more than you care to remember.  Was it for a simple demonstration, or to help a speaker?  It didn’t matter, you wouldn’t be chosen.  Yes, your hand was raised.  But it didn’t matter.  There was always a cute boy with freckles or an adorable little girl in the most darling little outfit.  Are you picturing this?  Always there was someone with something special.  They were noticed, but you weren’t.  There isn’t anything special about you, at least neither you nor anyone else has discovered it yet.

            Have you not been chosen in a large crowd, like to pet the whale at Sea World?  Did you feel worse when you were not chosen among your friends or among strangers?  Was it worse to be passed over in a crowd of one hundred or in a crowd of thousands?  Did you eagerly wait every time that someone was to be chosen, or did you finally resign yourself to never being chosen?  Just when you had given up, did hope ever rise within you?

            Imagine this…you are sitting among a crowd of several hundred people.  The person in charge is selecting four or five volunteers to participate in a game.  He comes to your section, but you don’t get excited.  He looks in your direction, and against your better judgment your heart beats a little faster.  He points at you?  No, not you, he is pointing to the person behind you.  You begin to stand up, but then you realize the truth and sit down.  And the story goes on and on.

            But for a moment, forget all those times.  Imagine yourself in this situation instead.  There are thousands and thousands of people everywhere, and you are just one of them.  The speaker has everyone talking.  He is the most exciting thing to come to town in ages.  All of the “right” people are clamoring to be near him.  They don’t always like him, but hey, he’s certainly popular right now!  When the speaker arrives, he begins scanning the crowd.

“What are you doing?”  They ask.

“I’m looking for someone,” he replies.

“Let us help you.  We have several people in whom you might be interested.  We are sure that you will find the one you want.”

“No.  I know the one for whom I am seeking.”

“Wait a minute.  You don’t want to go over to THAT area.  Choose someone from over here.  Come back!  What does he think he’s doing?”

            He walks through the crowd, and all the right people look knowingly at him.  They are all certain that they will be chosen.  But he passes each one without comment.  Before you fully realize what is happening, he stops in front of you.  “I’ve chosen you.  Get up and come with me.”  One of the leaders chuckles a little nervously and indicates that the speaker might have made a mistake.  He repeats, “Come with me.  It is you that I want.”  You begin to stand up and the people around you start laughing.  “What are you doing?  What qualities does this person have?  His clothes are messy and outdated, and really don’t even fit right.  He wears glasses, and they don’t look right on his face.  He always says the wrong things, and he will embarrass you.  Pick someone else.”

            You are standing there, and you are humiliated.  After all, the crowd is right.  And there is a lot more that they could have said about you.  You begin to sit down; it’s the least that you can do to get the speaker off the hook.  But he takes your hand.  “I want you.  Come with me.  Don’t listen to them.”

            Just by being chosen and agreeing to go with him, this man places the world in your lap.  He gives you a new name and a new home.  He gives you a coveted citizenship, and a position with a title.  In fact, you share all his titles.  You share his name, his home, and his citizenship.  All of the privileges that he enjoys, well, you receive them too.  Why were you chosen?  There is nothing special about you.  You did nothing to earn his attention, but he chose you.  Why were you chosen?  You were chosen because He wanted you.  He loved you.  Isn’t that an answer enough?  Now you ARE special.  You are special because you are chosen.  You are one of his and it shows in all that you do and say.

            Do you think that this story is far-fetched?  Think of the ministry of Jesus on earth.  Did He take candidates for disciples at the local synagogue?  Did He ask them to submit a resume with references?  Did He ask the priests to recommend some young potentials?  No, He went on a search of His own.  He went through the working sections of town.  He found very un-special men doing very common tasks.  Some of them were even despised or disregarded.  Jesus chose these men, not because they were special in the eyes of the world, but because they were special in God’s eyes.

            There were other un-special people that crossed the path of Jesus’ life.  Think of the blind man on the road.  He was bold enough to call out to Jesus for help.  I think that I wouldn’t have had that courage.  The people around him laughed at him, yelled at him, and tried to quiet him.  But Jesus saw and heard him.  And Jesus reached out to this very un-special man.  His life was forever changed.  He had been touched by Jesus.

            The examples could go on all day.  Just take a peek at the Gospels.  Jesus consistently found the unlovely and loved them.  There was the Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus, the lepers, the woman with bleeding, Mary Magdalene.  Jesus sought them out.  There were hundreds of people with whom He could have eaten or talked.  But He had a purpose and a plan.

            Have you considered Jesus’ life?  He was the Chosen One, the Most Precious Son of the Father.  He was God Himself, and He held the entire world at His disposal.  He was the Undisputed King of All.  Even angels worshiped Him.  Then He came to earth.  He exchanged all that glory to become a nobody on earth.  His birth was unannounced, His ministry was in small towns, not in Rome, and His death was quickly enforced.  Not even in His death was He given much recognition.  It was done speedily, with as few witnesses as possible.  This is Jesus, the One who chose you. 

            Jesus chose you, the least special person.  He chose you while you were of no value to anyone.  Jesus, the Most Valuable Chosen Son of God the Father, took your place.  He became nothing so that you could become everything.  Jesus sought out the unloved and the unlovely, and He loved them.  How special are you?  You are SO special that God sent His Son, His Only Son, to rescue you.  He died in your place, and now He is calling out to you.  He calls you “Precious” and “Holy” and “Chosen”.  He gives you titles and privileges and responsibilities fit for a child of the king, for that is what you are.  How special are you?  You are CHOSEN.  How special am I?  I am CHOSEN!

“But you are a CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9,10)

Heavenly Father, We cannot thank You enough; You have chosen us! You chose us not because we were worthy, great, righteous, or useful. You chose us because You loved us. Wow!


I am sharing this song in video format, with the lyrics printed below. I never cease to be moved when I hear these words.

My Worth Is Not In What I Own

My worth is not in what I own
Not in the strength of flesh and bone
But in the costly wounds of love
At the cross.

My worth is not in skill or name
In win or lose, in pride or shame
But in the blood of Christ that flowed
At the cross.

I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure,
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other.
My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

As summer flowers we fade and die
Fame, youth and beauty hurry by
But life eternal calls to us
At the cross.

I will not boast in wealth or might.
Or human wisdom's fleeting light
But I will boast in knowing Christ
At the cross.

Two wonders here that I confess:
My worth and my unworthiness
My value fixed, my ransom paid
At the cross.

(Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick, Fernando Ortega)

The Straight Stick

Dear Friend,

I  heard a reference to this quote on the radio the other day and I had to look it up:

(Here's a link to read a short biography of this man; if you want to read more, I have a few biographies in book form.)

Still today I am thinking of the implications of this simple statement:

The Word of God, the Bible, is our straight stick. We use it to determine what is straight or crooked in the world.

"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing  the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

"This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

"Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me'." (John 14:6)

"The very essence of Your words is truth; all Your just regulations will stand forever." (Psalm 119:160)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas." (Hebrews 13:8-9a)

"Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to give Him advice or teach Him? Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice? Does He need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach Him what is right or show Him the path of justice?" (Isaiah 40:12-14)



We need to study and to meditate on God's Word so that it fills us and enables us to distinguish truth from error, straight from crooked.

"Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness." (1 Peter 2:2-3)

"Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him'." (John 11:9-10)

"No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays." (Luke 11:33-36)

As we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we too will become a "straight stick".

"My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life." (Proverbs 4:10-13)

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:6-7)

"The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." (Romans 13:12-14)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2a)

Our lives should be the straight stick in our culture. We don't blend in, nor do we pronounce railing judgments. Rather, we live in such a way that the comparison becomes apparent, and unarguable.

"The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road." (Proverbs 21:8)

"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,' says the Lord." (2 Corinthians 6:14-17a)

"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:19-21)

"Dear friends, I warn you as 'temporary residents and foreigners' to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbeliving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world." (1 Peter 2:11-12)

• Why do believers read and study God's Word their entire lives, instead of reading the Word once and moving on?
• In what ways are believers countercultural? Why?
• Is it hard to distinguish truth from error? (Can you always recognize a crooked stick?)

Heavenly Father, We thank You for providing us with Your Word, that we might know the truth. Will You enable us to walk in Your way, despite our culture?

Hebrews - Salvation before Jesus? - 2

"All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it." (Hebrews 11:13)

Dear Mrs. Kurtz,
How were people saved before Jesus? Were people who made sacrifices the only people who were saved? It talks in Hebrews about how He came and saved those who were "waiting" for Him. What does that mean?

Dear Friend,

I am excited to continue our discussion of this excellent question! Here is the next installment in the series of truths to ponder. Let's delve into the Word together again, shall we?

Sacrifices served a purpose, but did not forgive sins. 

"But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use." (Hebrews 9:7-8)

 This system was temporary and incomplete. It represented a promise of a greater sacrifice to come. 

"This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies--physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established." (Hebrews 9:9-10)

The sacrificial system was a reminder of the need for cleansing. All were waiting for the sacrifice that would finally and permanently complete the cleansing.

"So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered the greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With His own blood--not the blood of goats and calves--He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever." (Hebrews 9:11-12)

All the earthly system's procedures and implements could only point to the One who would present Himself as a sacrifice.

"Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people's bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why He is the One who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person's death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect." (Hebrews 9:13-17)

The blood of Christ cleanses not objects, but hearts. We are purified by the perfect blood sacrifice. We no longer are subject to the penalty of the law--death.

"That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God's commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God's law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, 'This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.' And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals." (Hebrews 9:18-23)

Blood sealed the covenant, our bond with God. There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. Yet, it's not the blood of animals that cleanses us; it is the blood of Jesus, who offered Himself.

"For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And He did not enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, He has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by His own death as a sacrifice." (Hebrews 9:24-26)

Christ died once. His blood covered all sins, past, present, and future. The people of the Old Testament looked ahead to His sacrifice; we look back. Our eyes meet at Jesus, the focal point of all of time and eternity!

"And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him." (Hebrews 9:27-28)

Christ came once to deliver us from our sins; He will return to take us home with Him.

Jesus died willingly, a perfect sacrifice the sins of all men, past, present and future. 

"For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in the present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus." (Romans 3:25-26)

"After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't He also the God of the Gentiles? Of course He is. There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles." (Romans 3:29-30)

• Why was the blood of animals insufficient to forgive sin?
• In what ways was Jesus' sacrifice greater?
• Who may benefit from Jesus' death? Why?

Heavenly Father, Your Word is so full and rich with truth, thank You! Will You help us to understand all that we read and study? We thank You for Your great love for us.

Hebrews - Salvation before Jesus? - 1

"All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it." (Hebrews 11:13)

Dear Mrs. Kurtz,
How were people saved before Jesus? Were people who made sacrifices the only people who were saved? It talks in Hebrews about how He came and saved those who were "waiting" for Him. What does that mean?

Dear Friend,

This is an excellent question, yet it is difficult to answer well. So, I will endeavor to answer this question by presenting a series of truths for your consideration. Let's delve into the Word together, shall we?


All men and women are created for eternity. 

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)


All men and women are presented with the truth about God.

"But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and the sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." (Romans 1:18-20)


All men and women are accountable for their unrighteousness.

"When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God's written law. And the Jews, who do have God's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know His law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thought either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim--that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life." (Romans 2:12-16)


All men and women are sinful and deserving of eternal punishment, hell.

"As the Scriptures say, 'No one is righteous--not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one'." (Romans 3:10-12)

All men and women are saved from their sin through Jesus.

"But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:21-23)

• According to Hebrews, what was the purpose of the sacrifices?
• According to Romans chapters 4 and 5, how are men and women saved?
• Who deserves eternal life/salvation? Why?

Heavenly Father, we wrestle to grasp truths about You; please help us! We thank You for Your goodness and mercy. We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus.

We'll continue the discussion in another post! 

Psalm 119 - 19 - Qoph - The Lord is Near

"(Qoph) I pray with all my heart; answer me, LORD!
I will obey Your decrees.
I cry out to You; rescue me,
that I may obey Your laws.
I rise early; before the sun is up;
I cry out for help and put my hope in Your words.
I stay awake through the night,
thinking about Your promise.
In Your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry;
let me be revived by following Your regulations.
Lawless people are coming to attack me; 
they live far from Your instructions.
But You are near me, O LORD, and all Your commands are true.
I have known from my earliest days
that Your laws will last forever."
(Psalm 139: 145-152)

Dear friend,

Notes from "Qoph": The LORD is near

At times we struggle with silence; the Lord doesn't answer when we call. We seek Him day and night. We await His rescue, or at least His voice.

When we wait in silence, we exercise faith. Even when we cannot hear or see Him, we know that He is near. We hold on.

When we obey His commands, even in doubt, fear or discouragement, we exercise faith. Though we cannot see or hear Him, we know that He is near. We trust.

We recall what we know. Truth does not change.

Perhaps, true faith is best exercised when we are in difficult circumstances and we cannot see or hear the Lord.

I love to read Hebrews chapter 11, the great faith chapter!

"Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; is is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation."

The chapter shows us men and women of faith: each is commended for his/her faith, and that faith is demonstrated through obedience and trust. We must note that some suffered for their faith. Was God absent? Unable to help? Uncaring?

Of course not! 

We know that He is omnipotent, 

and that He loves His people.

So...if He chooses to allow us to experience suffering, trial, silence, etc., it is within His perfect plan. We may never understand in our lifetime, but let our faith remain unshaken.

• How do we often interpret silence within relationships?
• How does this influence our understanding of silence in our relationship with God?
• Which portions of Hebrews 11 most impact you? Why?

Heavenly Father, We thank You, for You are near, even when we cannot see or hear Your voice. We hold on, we obey, and we wait on You. Will You enable us to exercise our faith in the silent times?

Here's a link to an audio clip by Ravi Zacharias: "When God is Silent".