Luke 19:1-10, Ephesians 1:4-8

Clive Urquhart

Picture the scene of the school playground at break time with all the lads lining up to be picked for one of the teams to play football with a tennis ball! We all know the 'best' players are picked first; followed by a process of elimination until the last person, that nobody wants, has to be picked. During this, 'I don't want to be the last one' process, everyone is thinking, 'pick me, pick me, pick me!' The longer they're standing there, the greater the feeling of not being good enough; nobody wants me and possible rejection steadily grows.

Then the moment comes, you're picked, you're chosen, you're in the team! You're now part of something, you're included. The negative situation suddenly becomes a positive one.

Being chosen gives identity, worth and significance. These are so important if someone is going to flourish and thrive in their life. I love seeing how the power of being chosen can impact someone's life and the difference it makes.

We see this in Luke 19 when Jesus meets Zacchaeus the tax collector. Jesus was coming into Jericho, crowds of people were pressing around Him. They were inquisitive, intrigued, watching and wondering what He was going to say and do next. In the pressure of the situation, Jesus didn't bow to the crowd's expectations and demands. Instead, having seen Zacchaeus in a tree, He pressed the pause button and put the crowd on hold, He went over to him saying He wanted to stay at his house for the day. In saying this, the pressure mounted from the people; they began to complain to Jesus because Zacchaeus was a tax collector, a 'sinner,' someone who they hated because he had taxed them far more than he should have.

But Jesus ignored them. He wasn't swayed by the crowd, the need to be popular or to have a good reputation. He was far more concerned and focused on spending time with one person so they could receive everything He wanted to give them.

The result was a totally transformed life. Zacchaeus gave half of his possessions to the poor and to those he had cheated in taxes, gave back four times the amount. Salvation had come to his house.

Zacchaeus' identity, worth and significance was no longer in his wealth, influence and social standing but in who he was in Christ. His whole perspective and outlook on life had changed in a few moments.

Jesus doesn't see you as part of the crowd. He sees you as unique, a one off, someone who He wants to be with and spend time with. He has chosen you by name.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Thank him that he has made you a child of his, that you belong to him and that you are part of his team!

Live today knowing your identity, worth and significance is in him.

He has chosen you!