Picked last, or not
I heard a message the other day. It really has resonated with me the last week or so. It has made me think back a bit.
Do you remember the days of the ‘playground’ or ‘recess’? During elementary school we were given time to play in the middle of our day. Almost everyone was super excited about recess and the time to play with their friends. I say almost for a reason.
I found that the times during recess became the foundation or the beginning of teaching me competitive thinking. This is where a lot of us were introduced to team sports for the first time. At my elementary school softball, kickball, and basketball were the most common sports.
I can still remember waiting for the bell to ring so we all could run out to the playground. It was what we all looked forward too, that and lunch of course.
One thing that was required prior to playing each day, was picking teams. Usually the two best players would be deemed as captains and then everyone would line up and one-by-one kids would be chosen.
Honestly, I didn’t think much about it then, but now I look back and realize that day in and day out the same kids were chosen last. Normally, folks were chosen for how well they played, or even how well they were liked. I guess I didn’t think much about it, because I normally was chosen somewhat quickly.
I look back and wonder about this, and have come to the conclusion that this type of thinking and decision-making is simply how the majority works, and this is typical in every facet of our lives. The weak, less fortunate, or inferior tend to be the last to be chosen, hired, or accepted.
A glimpse of hope came charging at me from the book of John.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” - John 15:16
I look at this verse and can imagine myself on the playground in the line, nervous that I will be picked last. I feel so inferior, so weak, so small in the presence of God. I read this verse again, and just can’t begin to wrap my head around God’s thinking, but I thank him for it. He says, “You did not choose me…, but I chose you.” The fact of the matter is that God sees no line, and boy does it feel great to be chosen.
I picture the few kids back in the day that were all chosen last, and try to imagine that on one day, that they were all chosen first, and the expressions that would have followed.
We should be joyous to know that our Father doesn’t favor one from the other, and that He has chosen us, despite our failures, short comings, and most of all, sinful nature.
I guess our part is acceptance.
Do you remember the days of the ‘playground’ or ‘recess’? During elementary school we were given time to play in the middle of our day. Almost everyone was super excited about recess and the time to play with their friends. I say almost for a reason.
I found that the times during recess became the foundation or the beginning of teaching me competitive thinking. This is where a lot of us were introduced to team sports for the first time. At my elementary school softball, kickball, and basketball were the most common sports.
I can still remember waiting for the bell to ring so we all could run out to the playground. It was what we all looked forward too, that and lunch of course.
One thing that was required prior to playing each day, was picking teams. Usually the two best players would be deemed as captains and then everyone would line up and one-by-one kids would be chosen.
Honestly, I didn’t think much about it then, but now I look back and realize that day in and day out the same kids were chosen last. Normally, folks were chosen for how well they played, or even how well they were liked. I guess I didn’t think much about it, because I normally was chosen somewhat quickly.
I look back and wonder about this, and have come to the conclusion that this type of thinking and decision-making is simply how the majority works, and this is typical in every facet of our lives. The weak, less fortunate, or inferior tend to be the last to be chosen, hired, or accepted.
A glimpse of hope came charging at me from the book of John.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” - John 15:16
I look at this verse and can imagine myself on the playground in the line, nervous that I will be picked last. I feel so inferior, so weak, so small in the presence of God. I read this verse again, and just can’t begin to wrap my head around God’s thinking, but I thank him for it. He says, “You did not choose me…, but I chose you.” The fact of the matter is that God sees no line, and boy does it feel great to be chosen.
I picture the few kids back in the day that were all chosen last, and try to imagine that on one day, that they were all chosen first, and the expressions that would have followed.
We should be joyous to know that our Father doesn’t favor one from the other, and that He has chosen us, despite our failures, short comings, and most of all, sinful nature.
I guess our part is acceptance.
posted by Jonathan at 1:49:00 PM
2 Comments:
We discussed this very passage last night in Link Group! :) Indeed, all we are asked to do is abide in Him and we WILL bear fruit... not maybe, or possibly... but we WILL, if we will simply abide in Him. That means regardless of how cool, how extroverted, studious, skilled, talented, etc a person is... it's a level playing field. Truly all of us can bear fruit, fruit that lasts, if we would but abide in Him. Picked last or not is right on...
so. who are you picking last?
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