Pick Me! Pick Me!

Week 2 Scripture: Galatians 1:10-24

Do you remember that moment when you were not picked for the team? Maybe it was little league baseball, soccer, band, or cheerleading? Wasn’t that disappointment earth shattering as a young kid? You’re left there in bewilderment wondering how the heck nose-picker Nancy or booger-eater Brett made the cut, but not you. Well, I often talk with Christians who perpetuate this feeling in their relationships with God. They speak and act as though they were not picked for the team, or didn’t make the cut. They question if God really loves them or wants them on His team. The Apostle Paul becomes a prime example of someone who deserved NOT to be picked for the team. Paul, speaking of his past life, talks about his “extreme militancy” against the Christian church (Gal 1:13-14). His end game was to “annihilate” the church (Gal 1:13). Not only was Paul playing for the wrong team, he strongly hated the Jesus team. But Paul, recognizing God’s “grace” in his life—for Jesus appeared to Paul to correct his misguided zealousness—believed that “from birth”[1] he had been “called” (kaleō). We all, like Paul, once played for the wrong team (Eph 2:1-3), but God through his “grace” (undeserved favor) has “called” each of us to play on His team. As a kid, I remember when I wasn’t picked for the track team…this was mostly because I was slow and couldn’t make it over the high jump. The feeling of not being picked pushed me to practice every day for the next few weeks. I was going to make that team, or die trying! I see this same spirit in the hearts of many Christians, but it is ill guided when it comes to following Jesus. God has set every Christian apart and “called” each of us according to his “grace,” and not our efforts. We no longer need to strive to be on the team; we are on the team, we are called, and it God who has called us—this is the good news of Jesus! Our mission then is to stop living as if we’re not on the team or thinking we can earn a place on the team.

Questions to Ponder:

1.     In what ways do you feel like you’re not on God’s team (i.e. disqualified because of sin or just not “good enough” for God to use you)?

2.     Do you find yourself trying to work for God to “choose” you? Why do you think you do this?

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[1] The Greek here literally means, “from my mother’s womb.”