I am chosen...

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. 

I Thessalonians 1:4  For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you... 

Ephesians 1:4-5 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love,  He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-- 

I Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional
August 4, 2010
The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　-- Acts 22:14
　
"The Scripture for today offers words of comfort when it says we are His chosen ones. In fact, Jesus reminds us that we have not chosen Him, but He has chosen us. He has chosen us to serve and worship Him, to receive every spiritual blessing and a heavenly inheritance.
　
"But to some of his loved ones　God whispers, "I have chosen you for the furnace of affliction." Yes, He does choose some of his children to suffer. Consider the apostle Paul. God said of him, "He is a chosen vessel unto me... for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." (Acts 9:15-16, KJV).
　
"Chosen to serve God, yes; to praise him, of course; but to suffer for him?　 After being paralyzed for more than three decades, I am able to say yes. God gives special promises to those who have been specially chosen. If you have severe aches and pains, a husband gone astray, a wife with manic depression, or some other painful circumstances, He has a word that is spoken particularly for you: you are a chosen vessel chosen to suffer.
　
"Author Samuel Rutherford said,
　
'Therefore, all the comforts, promises, and mercies God offers to the afflicted, they are as so many love-letters written to you. Take them to you, and claim your right, and be not robbed. It is no small comfort that God has written some scriptures to you which He has not written to others. Your God is like a friend that sends a letter to a whole house and family, but speaks in His letter to some by name, that are dearest to Him in the house.'
　
　
"Take a few minutes to look up some passages that contain special promises for times of affliction. Key words are suffer, comfort, and afflict.
　
* * * * *
　
Thank You, God of all comfort, for speaking words that serve as a balm to my soul"
"

I know some of you are probably thinking that “this isn’t what I signed up for!”  Chosen?  Yes!  Chosen for suffering?  NO WAY!  But the thing is, we don’t get to choose – God makes that choice for us.  We may not know why He allows certain things to happen until we’re face to face with Him – and then we’ll see the bigger picture, and we’ll understand what we can’t comprehend now.  Is He allowing suffering because He enjoys seeing us squirm?  NO!  He allows suffering into our lives because He loves to see us wade through the muck and the mud of our lives in VICTORY, despite the suffering!  Isn’t the testimony of someone like Job so much more powerful than that of his friends – who had obviously never struggled with pain and suffering?  Are you suffering today?  If you are, keep your eyes on Jesus, believing that there is purpose even in this, trusting Him to be your comfort and strength in your hours/days/weeks/etc. of need.  He is there – He cares – and His grace is enough!  Sharon