Have you ever pondered why God has chosen you for the very life you are in?
As I reflect on my own life, I am often filled with a sense of wonder and praise for the path God has paved for me.
I am thankful for a beautiful wife. (I married up!)
I am thankful for my six wonderful kids. (And that I haven’t had to bail any of them out of jail yet!)
I am thankful to pastor the greatest church on the planet. (Even in its beautiful imperfections!)
Who am I that I have been placed in this position? Well, the fact of the matter is, I am no one. I am just a jacked-up joker who is in need of God’s daily grace and empowerment. But one thing is for certain: God chose me and God chooses you, too.
Unsuspected Chosen Ones
Growing up, I distinctly remember one prevalent desire on my heart. I wanted to be used by God. As a matter of fact, that same want and passion remain a constant theme of my life today. Maybe you can relate.
As children of God, we should long to draw near to Him so that we can reflect His face in every action, thought, and word, and in the process, make a significant impact for the kingdom with everyone we encounter. (Is there a greater compliment as a disciple of Christ?)
The apostle Paul (and author of the Epistles) understood this. He went from a life of being a zealous Pharisee, persecuting those who followed Christ, to being a key leader in launching the First-Century church. If anyone should have been disqualified from partnering with God, it was Paul. But our merciful God had other plans.
The Corinthian Church
Many churchgoers are professionals when it comes to dressing for the part. Each Sunday, Christians flock to their churches dressed to the nines—three-piece suits, heirloom pearl necklaces, and fancy hats that match ensembles perfectly. Yet, underneath it all, they are simply broken people like you and me.
And the Church of Corinth was no different.
They too attended church together, and soon after service was over, they were back to their weekday antics: incest, adultery, drunkenness, and lawsuits among one another. (Very similar to what the greater church is still experiencing today.)
But what amazes me is that in his letter to the Corinthians, he acknowledges their flaws and encourages them with merciful truth, reminding them that God still desires to use them for His greater plans.
Together, let’s look at the different kinds of people God loves to partner with and explore what that means for us today.
5 Kinds of People God Chooses to Partner With
The Foolish
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;”
1 Corinthians 1:26-27, NKJV
Throughout this passage, we see a theme of foolishness. For many, we might consider this to have negative connotations. But what does it mean for the Gospel?
The Greek word mōros can be defined as foolish, dull, or stupid. In essence, they are those who aren’t the sharpest knife in the drawer. God chooses those who are dumb to the world’s standard. (It’s why I am in the position I am in!)
When the world says, “1+1+1=3”, God says, “1+1+1=1” because the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are the One True God. When the world says squander as much money as you can and you will be taken care of, God says, give me back 10% of what’s mine and your cup will runneth over. When the world says to defend yourself in all things, God says turn the other cheek, and justice will be given to you.
God chooses those who are foolish for His kingdom!
The Weak
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;”
1 Corinthians 1:27, NKJV
God doesn’t deal in the currency of strength. While He is stronger than we can imagine, He desires to partner with those who are weak. God flows through our weaknesses and in doing so, reveals His might. He isn’t looking for the fastest—He is searching for those who welcome His power into their lives so that when the world takes notice, they identify miracles and abilities as something only God can do!
The Low
“And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,”
1 Corinthians 1:28, NKJV
What are the “base things of the world”? They are the things we have done that should discredit us from remaining in His presence; yet, we have a loving, merciful Father who forgives more than we are worthy of.
You got drunk; God wants to use you.
You had a child out of wedlock; God can still use you.
You have a past of stealing; God is looking to use you!
We all have a past because we all need a Savior. Be encouraged, church; God finds joy in restoring His children from the muck and mire of sin. You cannot be disqualified from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember, there is no testimony if we have never hit rock bottom. Keep moving forward and allow Him to change lives through your story!
The Despised Ones
“And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,”
1 Corinthians 1:28, NKJV
Have you ever been rejected? Maybe it was for a promotion you really were hoping for. Or perhaps it was from someone within the church. Regardless of the circumstances, rejection is painful. The problem for most is when they attempt to keep trying to fit in where God doesn’t want them. It leads to discouragement and heartache. So what do you do in these circumstances?
I implore you to consider this: rejection is a sign that God has something much greater for your life! Instead of trying to force your way into a relationship or a situation, ask God to reveal where He longs for you to be and then follow His prompting.
The Unrecognized Ones
“And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,”
1 Corinthians 1:28, NKJV
As a teenager, the kids in my neighborhood would often play street football. These games usually didn’t follow all the rules of football, and teams were chosen by two team captains. Well, as you can guess, I was usually the last man standing, and when it came down to a captain choosing me for their team, it was by default because the other didn’t want me. I was discounted and unrecognized.
How often are we left unrecognized by the world? We see it in our workplaces, in the church, and in our homes, which can be discouraging because these places should be considered our safest ones.
God allows others to pass us over because when all is said and done, He is looking to choose those who give Him the glory in all things.
1 Corinthians 1:29-31 in the New King James Version continues by saying, “that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.’”
God is looking for people who, when He uses them, point others back to Jesus, giving Him all the glory and honor, forever and ever.
Saints, let us be Sons and Daughters who are not ashamed to thank God in our private lives and our public ones. Let us surrender our lives and share our testimonies with reckless abandon and remember the distinct honor we have to be His chosen ones!
For more on living as God’s chosen ones, check out Pastor John K. Jenkins, Sr.’s sermon, The People That God Chooses.
