Chosen To Give

Weeks before the day, Lilly, age two going-on-three, talked about her Birthday Party. What the cake would be like. Oh, and there would be presents. She loves surprises and just could not wait to open her gifts. That is why what happened was so amazing.

As she picked up each new package, and her mother helped her discover who it was from, she opened it and squealed with glee as she took it to the person who brought it for her. The kids, the adults, they all just smiled as Lilly brought them, a stick pony, a doll, or a new outfit. She thought those gifts were hers to hand out once she opened them.

Her joy was spreading joy and let me tell you it was happiness all around that room. Could we all just use a little or a lot more of this?

This little one had no idea that she was giving away a possession that would later give her hours of enjoyment. No wonder Jesus tells us “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Have you ever wondered why you were chosen to be who you are?

Why you were chosen to be born even? Let alone, why were you chosen to be the child of your parents, born into the country of your birth, the generation of your family? Someone made a choice and you exist. You are a gift that was chosen to keep on giving.

Before you think these are foolish thoughts, allow me to say this: You are not here by accident. You were chosen to exist by a Creator God that knew you in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:14-16) God chose to make you and re-make you into the image of His Son. (Romans 8:29) You are a gift, chosen, to keep on giving.

I love these words from Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth in Portrait of a Woman Used by God, “I believe there is a special sense in which God created us women to be bearers and nurturers of life. Whether or not He grants us physical children. He wants to use us to carry the life and light of Jesus into the world – to be spiritual reproducers, bringing forth His life in the lives of others.”

Someone made a choice and you exist. You are a gift that was chosen to keep on giving. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit…” John 15:16a

Giving life is giving the best gift of all. That is why Jesus is everything to believers, He is life to us. He died to give us life everlasting, a gift that cost us nothing but cost Him everything. We are the chosen to give a kind word, a sacrifice of our time, our energy, our patience.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Jesus is a friend of saints and sinners. His love is for all and we are called to love and be a friend to all. To take His love and pass it on and on and on.

“Friendship is a gift from God… a friend loves at all times.” This little shelf plaque sits to the right of my desk to remind me of a gift. A friendship. A gift that gives. The words inscribed were taken from Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Most of the time we only see the first portion of this verse because the second half sounds kind of negative. But really, it is as positive as can be. My study Bible explains it like this, “a true friend has unquenchable love that is not diminished by adversity.” A true friend is a precious gift.

Like little Lilly, let’s accept this gift, and joyfully give it to those in our lives that need a gift, a present, in their present situations?