Ephesians 1:4 NIV is one of my favorite verses, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”

Read it again. Before the creation of the world—you were chosen. 

God wants us to get this one:

• 2 Thess. 2:13 “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruit to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”
• 1 Thess. 1:4-5 “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.”
• Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
• James 1:18 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

There are more, but I’ll stop. 

He chooses, but we must choose too. We choose to receive. Jesus speaks in John 7:17, “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

Chosen’s opposite is rejected. Check out this list of synonyms and antonyms:

Chosen: Cherry-picked, choice, elect, embraced, favored, handpicked, preferred, selected, appointed, designated, marked, adopted, reclaimed, redeemed, recovered, rescued, retrieved, saved, restored

Rejected: abandoned, deserted, forgotten, forsaken, ignored, neglected, untended, cast-off, discarded, junked, miserable, wretched, empty

Chosen is your reality. 

Rejected is the lie the enemy whispers. And it’s easy to receive the lie. The alternative seems too good to be true.

Plus, I know myself. 

But it’s still a lie. 

God says you are chosen. He knows you by name. He’s had a plan for you from before the first star’s twinkle. 

You. Chosen. By God. Write your name over every synonym for chosen. Satan is the one who’s been rejected. Not you. Leave the second list for him. Refuse to make it your own. 

For God rejoices over you. You have been chosen. 

Spend some time in worship and seal your chosenness into your spirit.

Workout of the Week: Chosen, Not Rejected

Memory Verse: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4

Meditation Passage: Ephesians 1

Do It: Receive it.