Choose Me. Love Me.

Some of you may know that I am sort of a "recovering" Grey's Anatomy fan, that's right, I said it. I used to clear my schedule every Thursday night for a couple of years to catch my favorite "surgeons" in action on what I affectionately call, Grey's. Not only would I rush home from whatever I was doing to watch on Thursdays, but I would buy the entire season once it was over so I could relive my favorite episodes. Those who know me well, know that I could generally care less about watching TV at all, but Grey's Anatomy sucked me in to following the lives of Seattle's favorite intern surgeons. However, I started to realize the focus of the show became more about Meredith's sex life, so I lost interest and stopped watching. In fact, I couldn't even tell you what is going on in the show today - and as I write this, it is indeed a Thursday night! BUT...... something Meredith said towards the end of season 2, stuck with me when she was wrestling with her feelings for Derek.

"Okay, here it is, your choice... it's simple, her or me, and I'm sure she is really great. But Derek, I love you, in a really, really big pretend to like your taste in music, let you eat the last piece of cheesecake, hold a radio over my head outside your window, unfortunate way that makes me hate you, love you. So pick me, choose me, love me." - Meredith Grey

Why was she saying this? Because she wanted to be chosen. And who, on this side of Eden, doesn't want to be chosen? Who would refuse that crazy drop-everything-your-doing-and-drive-to-Paris-in-the-rain kind of love? The kind where your friends notice that there is something different about you and it is not your hair or weight. Who doesn't want to be chosen to receive the kind of love you would want to run a marathon in 5 inch high heels for? The truth of the matter is, we all want to be chosen by someone.

Perhaps after Meredith said that, deep in her heart she hoped and wanted to hear the response, "You know, I choose you. I love you." How do you think she would react? How would you react if you were her?

Well, truth of it is, if you choose to follow Christ, you get to hear that EVERY day! What an incredible blessing that is! Every day we can wake up and know He loves us, He chooses us. And you know what else? His love is SO much bigger than the, "pretend to like your taste in music, let you eat the last piece of cheesecake, hold a radio over my head outside your window," kind of love. His love is SO big, He sent His only Son to die, a torturous death on a wooden cross because He loved us so very much. I don't know about you, but I'd take that over cheesecake, taste in music, and a song on the radio any day. In fact, I almost feel unworthy of a love that big, and to accept His incredible love, moves my heart and brings tears to my eyes.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. - 1 Peter 2:9, NIV

You may be reading this, wondering, "How do I know if *I* am chosen by God?" Well, I can tell you, if you choose Him, He chooses YOU! (John McArthur - commentary of Ephesians) Without getting into the whole free will versus predestination topic, its simple to say, He loves us. He chooses us. His word reassures us of that, so that by His grace we are saved.

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. -- 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, NIV

The longing we all have to be chosen can officially subside, knowing we have been chosen by an amazing, all mighty Creator. He pursues us to win our hearts. When we walk in that kind of love, everything will be different. Much like being in love or being chosen by a romantic partner, so is similar as that of being in love with God. You can't stop thinking about Him! You want to be with Him! You want to sing songs about Him, write about Him, talk about Him, tell all your friends about Him, introduce Him to your family, invite Him to all events in your life, call Him to share your day with Him, you want to share your life with Him! Friends, this how our love life with God might look like if we fall into that kind of love with God! He already chose us, to love us, and has proven that by sending His only Son to die on the cross for us! Why not shout about His love from the roof tops?! Why not tell everyone how in love you are with our Creator?! How much fun would that be!

Of course, some folks out there may not understand this, because they do not know Him like you do. You see, the more anyone comes to know Him, the more they will see His incredible love and grace - the big love and grace He has for them too! We simply cannot settle for knowing about God, or having knowledge about God, we must get know God - His character, His love, what He hates, what He loves, what He says, what breaks His heart, all this we get to know as we come to know someone we are head over heels in love with. When someone truly comes to know God, they will know how much He loves them too.

"A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about Him." - J.I. Packer, Knowing God

I pray that you will join me in accepting God's love. You are loved, by the King of Kings. You are chosen, by our Creator. Isn't that enough to throw off the shackles of your old life and embrace His life-changing love? Accept that you are chosen, a child of His kingdom. You are precious to Him.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - 3 John 1:4, NIV

The truth is that He loves us, His grace is more than enough, and no matter what sin we have committed - we are forgiven as long as we ask Him. Dear friends, I pray that you will know just how loved you are by God. We all have this deep longing to be chosen, to be loved - well, we are chosen, and we are loved - by a tireless, loving God! I pray that knowing you are chosen by Him, and knowing that you are loved will penetrate your heart. I pray that realizing how wide and deep His love and grace are for you will cause you to shout from the mountain tops about how in love Him you are! His love is more than worth telling everyone! ...and you are more than worth His amazing love and grace!

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Kay