The Chosen

NEHEMIAH WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

Do you recognize the Divine processing of God working to form Christ-like character in you?
Are you willing to be refined and emptied so that your life bears eternal fruit – the fruit that remains?
Will you daily lay down your life to become a living sacrifice for God?

The Chosen

It is vitally important that those who are called and chosen by God have truly allowed themselves to be tested, refined, crushed, emptied, and finally commissioned by God. 

Many drop out during these carefully designed “choosing processes” (which could also be called “the crushing processes”) of the LORD, often blaming the devil for what was in fact the Divine processing of God working to form Godly character in them, so that they could withstand the often crucible-like pressures of Christian leadership. There are so many tests that occur during the time of Divine preparation for service, and often they are not understood as tests. That is why Jesus said that “many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

The cost is great, and for many, it is simply too great. Those whom God will use for His glory have been chosen to daily lay down their lives upon the altar of living sacrifice to their Beloved (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15:31), to be entirely poured out for Him, and for those whom He chooses for us to serve and live amongst, in selfless love and like a drink offering, until nothing is left (Philippians 2:17). 

God intends for those whom He chooses to be willing to be broken like a communion meal and fed to the poor, and all for the sake of the redemption of the lost and for the Glory of God, never for the furtherance of their own reputation (Philippians 2:5-9). 

For God’s chosen, self must decrease until it has died, so that Christ in us, the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27), can increase to His fullest possible expression in and through us. From all of the above, we can see that being chosen by God is not an occasion to lead us to become puffed up with pride, or to expect others to serve us or see us as somehow better than themselves – God forbid. 

No – being chosen by God is an occasion to fall on our knees in reverent awe, acknowledging our weaknesses and our reliance upon God every step of the way. 

Remember:

1. God chooses, tests, and refines leaders to bear lasting fruit (John 15:16)
2. Divine choosing requires dying to self through costly obedience (Romans 12:1)
3. Obedience to the choosing process produces humility, and Christ’s glory will be revealed through you as you become more like Him (Colossians 1:27)

If we are genuinely called, and if we persevere through the choosing process, then the full power, authority, anointing, and love of the LORD will be lovingly released through us, by Him, as we minister Christ to others through the surrendered vessel of our life. 

Let’s Pray. Lord, I acknowledge that You have chosen and purposefully planted me. Help me to persevere with humility through the crushing processes of choosing and refining. May self decrease so that Christ in me might increase, revealing Your glory through my surrendered life. Amen.

This devotional is written by Pastor Steve Harris, the founder of Global Influencers, an organization that trains and equips leaders and emerging leaders to establish anointed communities that transform nations by restoring Kingdom culture from grassroots to government in the villages, cities, regions, and nations of the world. He is also the Content Development Assistant in the Nehemiah Entrepreneurship Community.