ception, prophets like Samson and John
the Baptist were also chosen in the womb
or beforehand, claimed before they even
took breaths on this earth. What causes
this? How can a human being be chosen
for a massive task, or as the fulfillment of
a prophecy, before they’ve even lived or
made any choices of their own?
You might be wondering, what about the
rest of us?
There is often a misconception about
being chosen—we see the great prophets
of old and the martyrs and the missionar-
ies and the people who end up with their
name in hallowed Christian lights, and
we begin to assume that they have been
chosen at a level deeper than the rest of
us. The truth is, Jesus stated that every
one of us has been chosen. Not by our
own work, not by something we managed
to earn, but by Himself, before our time
or decisions even showed up.
“You did not choose Me
but I chose you,
and appointed you
that you would go and bear
fruit, and that your fruit would
remain, so that whatever you
ask of the Father in My name
He may give to you.”
John 15:16 (ESV)
In fact, if you continue searching the
scriptures you will see that we have all
been chosen long before our existence—
just like those prophets of old.
“…just as He chose us in Him
before the foundation of the world,
that we would be holy and blameless
before Him In love
He predestined us to adoption as
sons through Jesus Christ to Him-
self,
according to the kind intention of
His will…”
Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV)
In many ways, this is an underlying mes-
sage of Christmas: Jesus came to earth
because He already chose you. Regardless
of anything else in your life, your skills or
lack thereof, you have already been cho-
sen by a great God.
Even Mary, the young woman chosen
to give birth to the Son of God Himself,
heard God’s request of her, accepted it,
and was able to rejoice in it. Most of all,
she believed that it had little to do with
her, and everything to do with the good-
ness of the God she served. She believed
that His promises would come true.
“And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior,
for he has looked on the humble es-
tate of his servant.