Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Ephesians 1:4, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

Background

The NFL draft is over five months away. And as that time approaches, the teams will intensely scrutinize the available players, trying to find the ones that will best fit their team and fill their roster needs. There will be many trades and last-minute deals made between teams to mutually benefit both parties. And when the time finally comes, each team will draft the player that they think is best for them. Quarterbacks will be selected to rescue a floundering franchise. Receivers will be drafted to energize dormant offenses. Defensive stars will be chosen to clamp down on opposing teams and help their club make it to the playoffs. Now, getting drafted doesn’t necessarily mean the player will find a spot on an NFL roster. There will still be many training camps, workouts, and practices where the coaches will be deciding who makes the team and who gets cut. Of the 2% of college players that get chosen, many of whom were superstars on their teams, only about 25% of them will even make the team. And once they make the team, the average career of an NFL player is only 3 ½ years.

Application

But long before the NFL came along, a different kind of draft occurred. In fact, it took place before the world was created. But there were no tryouts held or qualifications being examined. There were no deals made or dozens of owners picking who would best help their franchise. It was a league of one, and God was doing the choosing. And He chose us, amazingly, before we had memorized any of His Scripture or bought a nice Sunday outfit. He chose us simply based on the work His Son did on the cross. But there was a trade made. Our sin, guilt, and condemnation were traded for the righteousness of a holy God. And so He chose us, not because of our talent or because we could bring Him trophies or better TV deals. He chose us to be like Him, holy and blameless, with His name on the jersey. He arranged it all—the draft, the trade, and ultimately the victory. And His eternity doesn’t end after 3 ½ years.

Charge

As we seek Him today, thank God for choosing you. Thank Him with your words, in your heart, and in the way you live your life. Remember whose blood is on your uniform and whose name is on your jersey.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words