God's Pick: On purpose, for a purpose, to His purpose

     Growing up a couple of blocks from a school had its advantages, especially on Saturdays.  This was the day when a lot of kids from the surrounding neighborhoods would gather and play sports.  I really enjoyed playing football, basketball, and baseball.  However, I surely did not look like I could be any good at any of them.  Being short and fat did not make me appear to be very athletic.  Many times, as a result, when teams were picked, I would be the odd man out, if there were an uneven number of players.  The rest of the time, I would just be the very last choice.  I was the leftover and the only reason I played at all was because the teams were supposed to be even.  This was a common weekly occurrence – until they saw me play.  Once they witnessed my speed, agility, and determination, they were really glad I was on their team.

     The day finally came, to my great surprise, that a high school senior, as one of the two captains, made me the very first pick.  I could hardly believe it.  I was so shocked; I even had to ask, “Me?”  “Are you sure?”   It was an extremely exhilarating moment.  As I went to the side that picked me, I was thinking to myself, “I can’t believe this guy picked me at all, much less first”.  After all the feelings of rejection I had experienced, it was so magnificent to be chosen on purpose with preference.  I was so excited about my astonishing first selection; I played much better than my own highest expectations.

    Years later, when I became a believer, I discovered that God had called me before the foundations of the world.  This time I was even more amazed!  Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, the One who holds the stars in their place, the One in whom all things exist – selected me.  It most certainly was not for who I was or what I had done.  On my best day, I would never qualify to be worthy of His calling.  For my calling was definitely not considered to be according to human estimates and standards by being wise, powerful, or wealthy. (1 Corinthians 1:26). 

    Do you want to hear the most amazing thing about His calling?  This applies to you!  So you should be just as astounded too.  For you were claimed by God as His own, having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will (Ephesians 1:11 AMP).  So, think on this for a while: Before the earth, and the stars, the heavens; before the universe was created, He had you in mind and specifically planned you for His purposes.

    By choosing you, God wants you to know your wonderful future and then realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has promised to you. (Ephesians 1:18).  So in order to attempt to grasp the magnitude of God picking you, the Lord gave me a nugget to share with you by using the word PICK as an acronym:

Personally picked:  ON purpose

    God personally picked you on purpose.  You are not an accident, nor are you a leftover like my pickup games as a child.  God deliberately selected you no matter if you are foolish, weak, insignificant, or think you are nothing in this world (1 Corinthians 1:27-28 AMP).  Long before He laid down earth's foundations, He had you in mind, had settled on you as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.  What pleasure He took in planning this!  He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son (Ephesians 1:4 MSG). 

God picked you on purpose to live a life of purpose.

Individually selected:  FOR a purpose

    God specifically picked you for a very special purpose.  Why?  You are distinctly set apart and marvelously made (Psalm 139:14)!  You are God’s workmanship, His work of art, His masterpiece and He uniquely created you for good works, which God planned for you long before you were even born (Ephesians 2:10).  You have got to remember that you did not choose Him.  He picked you!   And you have been selected, anointed and appointed to go into your world and produce fruit that will last (John 15:16).

God has something only you can do. – Lewis Timberlake

Called according:   TO His purpose

    God has picked you according to His purpose.  Yes, you!  He desires for you to fulfill His every gracious purpose of goodness and with His power you may complete in your every particular work of faith [faith which is that leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].  This is so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you (by what you do), and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 AMPC).  

Greatness is your potential of God’s purpose.

Know the:  Purpose of God

    God wants you to know His purpose and why He picked you.  He really does!  Ephesians 1:11-12 from The Message Bible sums it up well: “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.  Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.”

God has purposed your life; but it’s up to you to discover God’s purpose.

  God has personally picked you; (yes, you) on purpose, for a purpose, to His purpose, so you can know His purpose for your life.  For you are God’s most priceless and cherished treasure, personally choosing you on purpose before the world began.  Therefore, you need to know YOU are distinctly and deliberately –

GOD’S PICK!