Christian Living

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Miracle the imperfect Chosen One
I owned a beautiful black and white Border collie mix named fluffy, for 12 years. Fluffy would wag her tail and bark repeatedly when I came home, so happy to see me. She was the smartest dog I ever had. She would bring me my shoes, clothes and even my hat when she saw me getting ready to leave the house. In my mind, she was the perfect dog. Fluffy was a barker though, she would bark at everything. In spite of her imperfections, I had chosen her and loved her. I lost her in 2007.
In 2009 I moved to an apartment that would allow a dog with the idea I would purchase a dog after I moved in. I saved for months for the purchase. The big day came. I drove to the pet shop. I knew exactly what I wanted. I told the salesgirl, my desire was to purchase a quiet, older dog. The salesgirl suggested a 1 and a half year old, white and black Shih Tzu-Bichon Frise mix breed. She had long, entangled, straggly fur. She was sort of dirty. I saw what she could be if I groomed and bathed her. As I picked her up and held her, she struggled to get down. I chose her and took her home with me, so happy with my new friend. I named her Miracle to remind me of the miracles God did for my Mom prior to her death.
Miracle is a quiet dog, most of the time. Usually no one would know I own a dog, unless a stranger comes, then she barks. One day a few months ago, I inspected her teeth. Horror of horrors, I could not believe what I saw. Her top teeth were completely out of order, poor Miracle. Her imperfections do not matter to me because I love her. She has become a loving dog. She has her training difficulties, but I chose her, and I love her. I think that is how God sees believers, he loves us. He knows about our sins, yet we are not in our sins as believers. I Corinthians 5:21 for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Made righteousness of God in him-imputed righteousness- he gave it to us-he sees us as righteous not as sinners, even though we still sin. It is our position in Christ as believers.
Scripture teaches that Jesus died while we were yet sinners. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus did not wait for us to become good enough before taking our sins upon himself, he did it when we were still in our sins. My brother Billy used to think that he had to clean up before coming to Christ. If that was required, no one would ever come to Christ. The thief on the cross next to Jesus, had nothing but his sins to bring to Christ and no time to try to live a better life, since he was about to die. Prior to his death, he asked Jesus to remember him when he comes into his Kingdom. We can come to Christ, just as we are, with our sins and all our imperfections. I chose my dog Miracle, just as she was, dirty and messy. Jesus chose us just as we were. Not that we should remain the same our whole lives [not in any sense of the word]. The point is that Jesus chose me and Jesus chose you.
Often I do not feel like someone that was chosen by the creator of the Universe. Do you?. Feelings can be deceptive. However, we should not listen to feelings, rather we should believe facts. Scripture is fact.
Here are some Scripture verses that speak to this subject.
Chosen
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people… [ Chosen, royal priesthood, hol,y peculiar, wow! He sees us differently than we often see ourselves]
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. [The father gives us to Jesus and when we come to him, he receives us. That’s neat, not the way we may feel about ourselves].
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? [God’s elect, we are chosen, even though we may not feel that way. We occasionally see ourselves as bad, sinful, and not measuring up to God’s holy standards]
James 2:5 Hearken my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? [Chosen by God, neat!]

Kept
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [He keeps us by his power, not by what we do].
Application: In our daily walk with Christ, we may not feel like what God says we are and who we are in him. We as humans sometimes go by what we feel and believe it to be true, rather than believe God’s word. God says we are chosen, kept, a royal priesthood. Our own insecurities often prevent us from getting closer to God because we may feel we are not good enough, and we know our own shortcomings and sins. Let us try to dwell on what Scripture says about us instead of what we feel or think to be true, Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith... Scripture is the only accurate source for our belief system. Let’s try to look to Christ, and what he says about us, rather than by our feelings.
Prayer: Lord, often I feel I am not good enough to approach you. Help me to not let feelings or inaccurate beliefs keep me from a close relationship with you. Help me to look past my insecurities and sins to see how you see me. In Jesus name Amen.
© 2010 by Zorrine Bailey
Scripture from KJV

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