I’ve always thought of the story of Esther to be a Biblical fairytale. Here’s a young lady, living her normal life, who suddenly is chosen to “audition” as queen. She doesn’t lie or manipulate her way into the king’s heart; but through her own grace, humility, and beauty, she wins the crown. Then later, she ends up saving her people from certain death. It’s better than Cinderella!!
Esther was chosen by God to deliver His people. Her cousin, Mordecai, makes the statement to her that maybe she is even “come into the kingdom for such a time as this.” He understood that Esther’s role as queen was more than just a status symbol; it was really all part of God’s plan.
But let’s look at the not-so-grand part of the story. Do you realize that at that time Esther probably would have had to forsake all that was familiar to be the king’s wife? All her old friends, family, customs, independence, and privacy would have to be put away for her to maintain her royal status. Not only that, she couldn’t even go talk to the king without being summoned. Her fear of being put to death was very real; historically, King Ahaserus was known for his undisciplined temper. Surely, there were other young women who wanted to be the queen and were constantly on the lookout to make Esther slip up so they could take her place. Esther was probably in a very lonely place despite her high rank.
But wasn’t she was chosen by God to do great and mighty things? Why did she have to endure heartache to fulfill her purpose?
We can search the Bible and find hero after hero who did incredible works in the name of the Lord, who first were chosen to endure.
Think of Joseph, a young man chosen and given great dreams, only to be sold into slavery.
Think of David, a young man anointed to be king, only to spend the next years running for his life.
Mary, a young woman chosen by God to bear our precious Jesus, surely endured the rejection of her family and friends when she was found pregnant.
We all love being chosen to be the princess, first place, the one used by God, but what about when we’re chosen to endure hardship? Does God choose us to be placed in the fire?
We hear the promise of anointing and immediately our minds run with visions of grandeur! Oh, what we could do for God!! But we don’t realize the barrenness we must first go through to obtain the promise.
Being chosen is beautiful and wonderful EVEN in the training. If we can ever change our mindset that being chosen isn’t about the glory! Being chosen is really about becoming a vessel for Him.
So, let’s look at our part. We have a responsibility in being chosen:
John 15:16 says, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."
The purpose of being chosen is so we can bring forth fruit!
Therefore, being chosen doesn’t mean we can live how we want. We’re called to be faithful!
We are chosen by Jesus, but will we choose Him?
Romans 12:1-2 states, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Paul is beseeching (urging, begging) the Roman church to yield themselves to God completely. Isn’t this what Jesus did for us? He yielded Himself wholly to the perfect Plan, so we can have salvation. Paul states that it’s only “reasonable” that we, too, yield ourselves to the One who called and chose us.
And because we are chosen, we’re not to be like everyone else. We can’t just follow the crowd. We have to be set apart!
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul gives this instruction: "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Timothy 2:3-4).
The Amplified Bible says it this way:
"Take with me your share of hardship [passing through the difficulties which you are called to endure], like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service gets entangled in the [ordinary business] affairs of civilian life; [he avoids them] so that he may please the one who enlisted him to serve."
Paul is saying, "Timothy, God’s chosen you to be a soldier in His army. Endure to the end, my son, even through the hard and difficult things. Don’t get your focus on the things of comfort and pleasure. Keep your eyes on fighting the battle that you might please your Captain."
“I am chosen” is a mindset.
Understand this, young ladies, you ARE chosen for a purpose! So when you’re going through a trial, remember, it’s all training. It’s all shaping and molding. It’s all a part of being chosen.
One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
All things work together! Even the difficulties!
We are CHOSEN to fulfill HIS purpose. Not ours! It’s a privilege to be chosen by God!
