Draft

Today, I was actually able to have a nice, slow day at home with my wife and daughter. It was a great day, with some house work (getting Zoe's room more ready for another baby. . .yes, I that it's 4 months early, but you try arguing with a pregnant woman!), spending time with my family, and, in between it all, watching some of the NFL draft! (It's been a long time since I've been able to watch any of that). As I was watching team after team select their next player, I listened to all the commentary by the announcers at ESPN: "Great player, tremendous upside" . . . "Lots of potential in this play". . . "This is a very strong, quick linebacker" . . . "A very smart player" . . . "I don't know why you'd select this player here with other much better players still available". . . .

It all got me thinking. . .are you amazed and blessed that our God and Father didn't select us like this? 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 tells us:

26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Praise the Lord that He does not judge as man does; man looks at the outward appearance, but our God looks at the heart. In his draft (I know this gets a little Calvinism vs. Armenianism, but stick with me!) God did not chose us because of any great ability or potential; indeed, the scriptures tell us that God demonstrates His love for us in that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." And, again, "how great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we might become the children of God." Let us praise our great, glorious, loving, and merciful God, for He has loved and chosen us first, so that we may love Him and choose Him in return!