God chose each of us for a divine purpose. As the Bible tells us, we are all created in God’s image and called to have a personal relationship with Him. Though we may not fully understand the specifics of why God chose us individually, Scripture provides insight into some of the overarching reasons God chooses and calls people.
First, the Bible makes it clear that God’s choices are according to His sovereign will, not our own merit. In Romans 9:16, the apostle Paul writes, “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” Our salvation is an act of grace, not something we earn or deserve. God chooses us simply because He decides to bestow His unmerited favor upon us. His choices are motivated by His loving and merciful character.
At the same time, God does have purposes for those He chooses. These include:
- To have a relationship with Him – God desires us to know Him personally (Jeremiah 9:24).
- To become like Christ – God chose us to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus (Romans 8:29).
- To do good works – We are saved to do the good works God prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).
- To make known His glory – God chooses people to declare His praises and make known His glory (1 Peter 2:9).
- To receive His blessings – God blesses those He chooses with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).
Additionally, Scripture gives us examples of how God sometimes chooses specific people for particular missions or purposes in redemptive history. For instance:
- Abraham – God chose him to be the father of the nation of Israel, through whom the Messiah would come (Genesis 12:1-3).
- Moses – God selected him to deliver the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3:7-10).
- Mary – She was chosen to bear the Son of God into the world (Luke 1:26-33).
- Paul – Called to take the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).
While we may not know the exact reasons God chose us individually, we do know that God’s choices flow from His love and result in purpose. God has planted in our hearts spiritual gifts, talents, and passions pointing to His intentions for how we can fulfill His callings. As we walk in faith and obedience, His plans for our lives will unfold in ways that bring glory to Christ and bless others.
At times, we may wonder why God chose us when we see ourselves as ordinary or undeserving. But God often chooses the humble, weak and lowly to do His work (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Our insufficiency provides opportunity for God’s strength and grace to shine through. The key is submitting our will to the Lordship of Christ and relying on the Spirit’s empowerment to live out God’s callings.
Some common questions people may have about why God chose them include:
Why would God choose me when I have so many weaknesses, flaws and shortcomings?
God’s choices are not based on human merit, but on His gracious purposes. He knows our weaknesses better than we do, yet He still wants to work through us. God chose ordinary, flawed people throughout Scripture like Moses, David, and Paul to fulfill His will. Our weaknesses provide opportunity for the power of Christ to be displayed.
Why would God give me this difficult life, family background, or set of challenges?
God allows brokenness and adversity, not to harm us, but to transform us into the image of Christ and equip us for ministry. Our life circumstances are opportunities to experience God’s grace, grow in godly character, and develop compassion for others. God promises to use all our experiences for good if we belong to Him (Romans 8:28).
Why would God choose me when other people seem more talented, intelligent or spiritual than me?
God does not choose people based on worldly standards of merit. He searches our hearts and chooses those with humility and faith, not pride or self-reliance. God is pleased to reveal Himself to those the world considers insignificant or unimportant (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). We all have equal dignity and value in Christ.
Why would God want a relationship with me? I’m not that great.
It is true none of us are inherently great. We all fall infinitely short of God’s glory and perfection. But God’s love, mercy and grace extend to all who humbly receive them. He delights in relationship with us not because of our merit, but because of His unrelenting love and grace. Though we do not deserve God’s love, He offers it freely to us in Christ.
Why did God make me this way? My personality, abilities, passions, etc.
God fashioned each of us with purpose, intention and meaning. As Psalm 139 declares, He knit us together in our mother’s womb, forming our inward and outward attributes according to His sovereign plan. God made us the way we are so that we can fulfill the works He prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10). As we walk in faith, God’s purposes for how He made us will unfold.
Why would God call me to this mission, purpose or career path?
God equips and calls each of us to a purpose only we can fulfill for His glory. He has planted passions, gifts and experiences within us that point toward the good works He prepared for us. Sometimes God calls us to paths we would not expect in order to draw us deeper into dependence and trust upon Him. We can have confidence God will equip us for whatever He calls us to.
Why would God want to use me to impact others for Christ?
God delights to use ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. He receives more glory when He works through weak vessels rather than the wise, mighty or noble (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Yielding ourselves to God as humble instruments highlights His surpassing power. We were created to do good works that give God glory and bless others.
In summary, God chose us simply because He loves us and seeks relationship with us. His choices flow from grace, not our merit. And He has purpose for each person He chose – to transform us into Christ’s image, accomplish good works, and make known His glory. Our limited human understanding cannot fully grasp the mystery of God’s election and calling. But we can trust His choices are good, motivated by unrelenting love, and designed to bless us and others for our joy and His glory.
Rather than worrying about why God chose us, the more important question is how we will respond to His choice. Will we accept His invitation into relationship? Will we submit to His lordship over our lives? Will we embrace the identity, purpose and calling He intends for us? Our gracious, sovereign God offers Himself to us. May our grateful response be a lifetime of yielding to His love.
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