Part of the Team

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” – 1 Peter 2:9

I am not an athletic person. Never have been. I remember many times in junior high school when I waited, somewhat embarrassingly, to be chosen to be on a team. Inevitably, I was one of the last to be selected because I was never an asset to a sports team. I knew I was chosen only because everyone in our physical education classes had to be on one team or the other. Even after being chosen, I was usually at the bottom of the line-up if we were playing softball, and I warmed the bench a lot if the game was basketball or tag football. Being “chosen” to be on a team in school didn’t have much meaning for me.

Today, I am on a different team for which I was specifically chosen by its Captain. I was not chosen because I was the last one available. I was chosen because my Captain wanted me on His team! He saw something in me that even I didn’t know was there, and He believed I would be a great team player! I am so happy that He saw beyond my outward appearance and looked upon my heart as it states in 1 Samuel 16:7. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” I am sure by now you realize who my Captain is. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, and His team consists of all those who have trusted Him as their Saviour.

I have no particular attributes that set me above any other member on our team. I am not the greatest teacher or the most talented singer. I am not the most outgoing when it comes to visitations, and I am not the greatest organizer of events. Yet, Jesus still wants me on His team. Why? Because He loves me! Jesus knows my abilities well because He gave them to me, and He has placed me in the exact place where I can serve Him to the best of my ability.

Maybe you aren’t a teacher or singer either. Maybe your talents lie in areas such as technology or food management. Maybe you are an encourager or a good listener. Whatever your gifts are, Jesus has a place for you on the team. All you need to be is willing to do whatever He asks, remembering He will not ask you to do something for which He will not equip you to do.

The first step is trusting Christ as your Saviour. After that, let Him show you what He wants you to do, then do it! It’s that simple. His Spirit will guide you and help you as you serve Him, and you will be filled with the joy of the Lord! There is also a pep squad! Hebrews 12:1 tells us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” It’s true! All of heaven will be cheering you on!

Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow’r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Now I belong to Him;

Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.

(from “Now I Belong to Jesus” by Norman J. Clayton)

“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.” – John 15:16

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It’s good to be on the winning team!