Chosen

Have you ever messed up, got turned around from your purpose or felt shoved to one side? Do you feel too old, too young or too broken for God to use you?

I’m here to tell you to shut those voices up and say satan get behind me. You need to realize God has good plans for you, yes you! He is not bothered by what you’ve done, or you haven’t done, where you’ve been or what age you are. He wants to use you. YES YOU!

The blood of Jesus has fully redeemed you, you are fully seen, fully and deeply loved and set apart to his good works.

And in love he chose us before he laid the foundation of the universe! Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence. For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace —for the same love he has for the Beloved, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure! 5-6For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace —for the same love he has for the Beloved, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure! Ephesians 1:4-6 TPT

God knows every mistake you have ever made and will ever make yet he still chooses you. He wants to use you and your story to help and encourage others like you.

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah‬ ‭30:21‬ ‭NASB

Living in this cancel culture makes it easier than ever to believe if you make a mistake God will cancel his plan and purpose for your life. That’s not his style. You don’t have to worry if you say the wrong thing He’ll yell off with their head! Be made to walk the plank. Be All Done. A pariah with no way back. Canceled. Gods’ response to whatever you do will never be how the world responds to us. Aren’t ya happy about that!? Thank you, Jesus for the mercy and grace bought with your blood.

But God…. God will not, does not cancel you. God does not cancel the call, the purpose or the path he placed on your life. They are and always shall be in place for as long as you have breath in your lungs. That breath is the assurance you still have time to accomplish all God has for you to do. Don’t doubt it don’t argue with it or try to put some buts in front of it;

But I’m too old to…

But I’m too young to...

But I’m not creative enough for…

But I’ve been married more than once…

But I’ve done awful things…

But I’m not educated enough…

But I don’t know the Bible well enough…

But I don’t know how to pray…

But I’m broken…

Don’t diminish or dismiss yourself that way when you do, you are diminishing and dismissing God. He can work through you, he wants to work through you, all he needs is for you to surrender, have a willing heart and your desire to participate and be obedient.

HERE I AM GOD USE ME!!

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom will I send? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me!”” Isaiah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭GW‬‬

My favourite story in the Bible is the woman at the well (John 4:1-42). Jesus met her in the middle of her shame. He knew everything about her. He knew the humiliation and regret she felt yet he chose her as the first person to reveal himself to as Messiah. Jesus *said to her, “I am He, the One speaking to you.” John‬ ‭4:26‬ ‭‬‬

Jesus spoke to her despite the fact that she was a woman, a Samaritan woman at that. He spoke with her knowing her past history of five husbands and now living with a man she wasn’t married to. He spoke to her even though society had canceled her. Best of all Jesus uses her to tell his story to those same people who had cancelled her. How poetic.  I absolutely love how she responded to Jesus, he had such an impact on her. She didn’t care she’d been canceled, shamed and humiliated, she couldn’t help but share about him to everyone in her village and they listened. They didn’t ignore what she had to say. It makes me wonder, the excitement, the enthusiasm, the way she must of looked and sounded to make the people who had cancelled her, discounted her and shoved her aside now listen to her. It’s such a beautiful story. It ends with Jesus staying with her people teaching them for two days. I’m that short time the entire village believed Jesus was Messiah and became believers because of her.

I love it, don’t you? I love how God uses the cancelled to bring reconciliation. I love how he uses the isolation of shame to bring unity to a village. The downtrodden to bring peace and acceptance.

There are many stories throughout the Bible just like this one. But if you take time to look around you, to get to know the people in your life right now, people who serve or work with you, run a connection group or are leaders of your church, those who are making a difference and impacting others’ lives. You will find they too have a story of being a sinner, of being cancelled and how God brought them through it and used them in spite of it.

Open those arms wide my friends and cry “here I am God use me, use me in-spite of my past, use me because of my past, I’m all yours”

My parting question is how could your ‘yes’ to Jesus help unify your circle of influence. How could your story bring comfort to others. How could your obedience to follow Gods plan bring reconciliation with Jesus to everyone you meet?

Thank you, Jesus, that the blood you shed on the Cross makes me without blemish in the eyes of our Father. Help me see that my past is not a reason to feel judged by you but allow it to empower me to do your will. Living my life, the way you planned for me to live it. I am all yours God. I surrender my will to you saying, here I am Father; I am your willing vessel use me. Amen