Being "First Pick"

As a kid, it was the biggest honor to be the first pick when teams were formed for gym class or some other activity. This meant you had something of value that could be contributed to the team. Nobody wanted to be the one left standing or the last one to be picked.

Fast forward to life now, outside of gym class, we often still get upset when we aren't someone's go-to. When we aren't the first person someone thinks of or when we aren't the best friend, but how fair is that? People are seasonal. It is okay for people to come and go out of your life. It is okay to grow with someone for a season and then move on. It is okay for people to leave without your permission. This doesn't have to mean someone is at fault, or that there have to be hard feelings, but rather it show us one of two things: how to be, or how not to be.

We are irrational beings. While we want people to want us, and choose us first before other people, we have to ask ourselves, who is our first pick?

If a name other than Jesus just popped in your head, friend, we need to do some work.

He is the best friend. He should be our go-to. He should be the first person we think of.

We are all born into a sinful nature- therefore sin was our first choice, naturally.

"For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me." -Psalm 51:5

Ouch, that's tough, but Jesus still chose us. We were His first pick before He was ours.

Isn't He amazing? Isn't He lovely? Isn't His love so great and abundant that it's hard to wrap your brain around? But aren't you so glad about it? I am. He didn't have to, but He did.

He came for you to have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

What's more, God tends to use the people who probably wouldn't have been the first pick for those school activities. He chooses the unpopular, the humble, the underappreciated, the unqualified, over and over again. In these people, His strength is shown more greatly. His success is more evident because it is not in our strength alone that we are succeeding, but only through the divine intervention of Jesus. He chose you because like those kids in school, (please don't think I'm cheapening this) He saw the work that could be accomplished through you. He saw you were beneficial because of your abilities and willingness. He wants you on His team.

Take comfort in knowing that Jesus chose to save you. He made a way for you. All you have to do is make Him your first pick. Allow Him to use you in ways you never thought possible.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." -John 15:16