Reading Through The New Testament in 2016 - November 16th, 2016 - 2 Peter 1 You are chosen by God.

Years ago I liked to binge watch a reality show called “intervention” (Why? I have no idea). This show covers substance addicts, how it affects them and their families and the finale is an intervention with the hopes they can recover.

One episode really stuck with me, it was about a little boy named Gabe adopted from India by a Christian family. This little boy was abandoned by his mother at the age of three and was living on the streets of India. He was chosen by this family in America to be their son. But, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t chosen, he was an outsider, and he wasn't truly part of the family. This ultimately led to his addiction issues.

Peter says “Friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, His choice of you.” (2 Peter 1:10 MSG) Often we are just like Gabe. We can’t accept that we have been adopted, that we have been part of the family, that God loves us as he would his own Son. So, we don’t live like we’re one of the family.

Peter also says “Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received!” (2 Peter 1:3 MSG)

Everything flows from us getting to know the one who chose us. We heal from the pain of our rejections, we cope from the shame of our sin, we are enabled to live a life Holy and pleasing to God… how? When we get to know our Dad who reached out to us and chose us to live with Him.

Take a moment to reflect on this: You were chosen by God, He loves you and accepts you.

The whole reason we’re reading through the New Testament is for this reason. So that we will come to know the Father that adopted us into His family. From there comes a life that flows with love.

May you today know you are chosen.