BY: MEGAN GILMORE
I felt God tugging on my heart to share a message I gave at a conference in October 2019 again, but this time in written form. I have had numerous conversations lately that all had an underlying thread of commonality and I knew it was time to share what continues to be on my heart. God has uniquely created each of us and set us apart.
In 1 Peter 2:8-9 God clearly speaks of a truth that we need to understand. I pray that we can allow these truths to sink deep into our souls and change us. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
As I began to dig into these verses, reading commentary and reading a variety of versions of this verse, my understanding went to a whole new level especially when reading the Message version. “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”
From nothing to something...from rejected to accepted. Those words are powerful! From nothing to something...from rejected to accepted. This is my testimony. God has brought me from nothing to something. From rejected to accepted. He wants to do the same for you.
There are three key pieces of truth I want to share, but in this blog I want to focus solely on this truth - God has chosen you!
In verse nine we see God is wanting to be clear that we are a chosen race. Or as it was stated in the message, “chosen by God.” The Jews were the chosen race. However, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross we have access to the chosen position. We have access to the promises of God. What a gift, to be chosen.
Chosen is defined as, “to be selected as the best or most appropriate.” There are many times where this word “chosen” can cause some pain. Personally, I was not one who was chosen for much in this earthly life.
The enemy is tricky in the way he sneaks into our lives at such a young age. Some may be able to relate to my story. I was never chosen growing up. I know “never” is a strong word - but - I really was not chosen for things. I was not the first to be picked for partners in class. I was not picked for games at recess. I was not chosen or selected, nor thought of as the most appropriate choice. The enemy began to speak lies into my life. I wasn’t worth being picked, no one wanted me, or I didn’t matter.
But that is not the truth! Maybe you have heard these lies before in your mind, in your heart. Beautiful sister, I am here to tell you that is NOT the truth! We are chosen! Again, in our key verses from 1 Peter it says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
I am also reminded of Isaiah 43, “But thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.” He called you by name. Names are powerful and we have to make sure we are listening to who HE calls us.
I have always wanted a name that was powerful and had a deep meaning. But, I don’t. Megan means pearl. However, God did reveal to me that my name is evidence of His work in my life. I have had hard and difficult situations that God has used to turn into beautiful pearls. God is doing the same for you. He has your name on His heart, He chose you, and He is calling you.
You were created by God. He fashioned every part of you. We are reminded of this is Psalm 139:13-16, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
He knows every part of you. He created you. He chose you. That is the truth! This is the truth we have to cling to when the lies of the enemy come at us. He. Chose. You.
Peter is reminding the Gentiles that God chose them and I am here to do the same...He chose you. He selected you as the best and most appropriate.
I know it can be hard to accept the truth, but this is the truth that you need to cling to. Write it on a card and look at it everyday. When you feel the lies of the enemy, start saying out loud, “I am chosen by God.” Soon, you will fully believe and the truth will be louder than the lie.
You are chosen!