** This blog is such a burden on my heart that I have written and rewritten it to try to get the message in a way that everyone will read and apply!
You Probably Remember a time when people were being chosen and you might not have been the first? Maybe it was in gym class when they were choosing teams? Or maybe it was at a dance when they were choosing someone to dance with? Surely we all share the experience of being the one that was not chosen first...and maybe not second?
This brings us to a thought-line that I'd like to drop into your thinking~ I've often considered the verse "For many are called, but few are chosen" Matthew 22:14, and I've been bothered by the idea that in God's word there is an area for people to not be chosen! I don't want to not be chosen! And this is a way bigger deal than a game in gym class or a school dance! I have set myself to do what I need to do to be chosen!
This brings us to a thought-line that I'd like to drop into your thinking~ I've often considered the verse "For many are called, but few are chosen" Matthew 22:14, and I've been bothered by the idea that in God's word there is an area for people to not be chosen! I don't want to not be chosen! And this is a way bigger deal than a game in gym class or a school dance! I have set myself to do what I need to do to be chosen!
We are all called/invited but we will not all be chosen! Doesn't that stir discomfort in you? I am not trying to cause fear, but awareness! We can not be complacent in our walk with God, we need to strive!
If we were going to a dance, we'd be looking our best right?! You know we'd make every effort to be one that was chosen! If we were competing in a sports we'd be working out, practicing, training! Now I'm encouraging you to make every effort to be one of the few that is chosen!(Matthew 22:14)
I want to point you to Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, that speak about not taking a life of ease, but to keep pushing ourselves to win the race! He says he treats his body hard and makes it his slave! How many of us have pushed ourselves to that point?
I want to point you to Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, that speak about not taking a life of ease, but to keep pushing ourselves to win the race! He says he treats his body hard and makes it his slave! How many of us have pushed ourselves to that point?
If you are like me you need to start pushing your body, do you feel more like a slave to it than it is to you? Do you feed it when it wants you to? let it rest when it wants to?...do you pretty much give your body what it wants? But according to Paul's words that kind of behavior could cost us a lot! It could make you lose the race that you so want to win!
So, I urge you to start training to win your race! dig into your Bible, read it, study it, spend time in prayer, not the "asking" kind of prayer, but the "praising, thanking" kind! Put a good praise song on and listen to the words, let them become the song of your heart! Do all you can to keep your thoughts focused on the pursuit of winning your "heavenly race"!
Beloved, we all want to be chosen, we all want to win...don't be a slave to your own will or your own body but push yourself, you can win! Follow the Holy Spirit, He is a great Trainer who will get you in shape to be the chosen! Holy Spirit, please come work on us and in us, to prepare us!
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14
"For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14
You know that in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize. So run to win! All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed. So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something--not just the air. I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NCV (The Amplified version is really good for these verses also!)
Beloved, we all want to be chosen, we all want to win...don't be a slave to your own will or your own body but push yourself, you can win! Follow the Holy Spirit, He is a great Trainer who will get you in shape to be the chosen! Holy Spirit, please come work on us and in us, to prepare us!
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14
"For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14
You know that in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize. So run to win! All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed. So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something--not just the air. I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NCV (The Amplified version is really good for these verses also!)
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