Weekend Worship—Chosen

You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain... John 15:16

Growing up I was never athletic. In fact, my idea of exercise was turning the pages of the latest book I was reading. You can imagine what the playground games were like for me. I was always the last one chosen. At least that was true until I met Amy. She was the exact opposite of me, excelling in sports. And, although we attended different schools, we got to know each other at church and became best friends. Then, one summer, she somehow convinced me to play softball with the church.

We were a large church and had enough players to field two teams. Amy and another girl were chosen to captain the teams and I found myself once again transported to the memory of grade school playgrounds while two popular athletes chose teams. The other girl won the coin toss and got to choose first. When Amy’s turn came I determinedly stared at the ground in front of me, praying this torture would end quickly. Imagine my surprise when the person she picked first was me.  I moved to her side and the teams were decided in short order. Later, I asked her why she’d chosen me first. Her answer floored me, “Because you have potential. I can see how athletic you are.”

I don’t know about the athletic part, but I didn’t embarrass her at church softball. God sees the same thing in each of us, and when we trust His view we can find the confidence to move forward and let Him bring about the fruit in our lives.