Growing up, I was an uncoordinated kid.
One of the ones who was often chosen last for the kickball team in gym class. And even then, only because there was no one else left to pick.
If you, too, have ever been picked last, the idea of being chosen by God might sound rather foreign. Some of us might even need to rethink what it means to be chosen.
To be chosen by God means we are His first choice and His best choice. Unlike the kids in the gym, He didn’t shrug His shoulders and say, “Well, I guess I’ll take her if no one else will.”
Not at all.
When Jesus’ hands were nailed to a cross, His fingers pointed to you and me – He intentionally chose to die for us. He chose you and He chose me and He chooses us every day.
Isn’t that amazing?
The book of Hosea in the Bible beautifully illustrates this concept for us. Hosea was a prophet whom God told to marry a prostitute and thereby show the nation of Israel how she’d been unfaithful by worshipping false gods. Hosea chose Gomer, a woman who would birth his children, yet leave him time and again for another lover. (For more, see Hosea chapters 1 and 2.)
All through the book of Hosea, we see both judgment and hope, destruction and restoration. Hosea proclaims both sides of God, which reflect His one heart – God’s faithful love for His people, warning them for their good.
Just like God chose the nation of Israel and Hosea the prophet chose Gomer to reveal His love, God chose you. In fact, you are a chosen woman of God.
It’s so easy to look in the foggy mirror that is my life and see all the reasons why I shouldn’t be chosen and loved: I’m selfish, I wander from God, I have mixed motives, I’m not good enough – oh, the reasons are unending!
However, the more accurate mirror of God’s Word reflects the truth that I am chosen and loved. And, that my friend, includes you.
In today’s key verse, God’s Word to Israel reminds us that even though we have made mistakes and might feel rejected and unworthy of love, God still pursues us. The message of Hosea is still God’s message to us.
In other words, Israel’s identity was a chosen and loved people of God. Our identity is chosen and loved women of God.
Thankfully, I’ve learned God doesn’t love me because I am cleaned up, religious or even because I am a Christian. He loves me because He is love. We didn’t earn His love and we can’t lose His love either.
The Bible says, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8b, ESV). He didn’t choose to love you because you were lovely, He loved you and then you became lovely. Your value comes from His inherit value.
Look into the mirror of your soul and see Gomer reflected back at you. She was the beloved bride and so are you. Embrace your true identity as a chosen and loved woman of God!
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