III. Remember you’ve been chosen

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from the book: "God Knows You’re Human"
by Terry Virgo

God had told David, “Solomon your son is the one who will build my house ... for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father” (1 Chronicles 28:6). David encouraged Solomon by reminding him of that choice. “Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary” (1 Chronicles 28:10). Since God had chosen him, he could be bold. So David exhorted his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you, He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished” (1 Chronicles 28:20).
But just a minute - who was this person that God had chosen to build His house? Wasn't he the son of Bathsheba, a woman who should never have appeared in David's history, at all? Why should she be honoured as the mother of the future king? Who was Solomon that he should be selected? What had he done to deserve such recognition?
Amazing grace! “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20). When David confessed his sin, God did not simply forgive him but then disqualify him for the future. He forgave completely and thoroughly reinstated David in His purposes.
How many times have you written yourself off? How often have you said, “I give up. Look at my past. Look at the blunders I’ve made and keep on making. God couldn’ possibly use me, He couldn’t possibly ... could He?” But then, He couldn’t possibly have chosen Solomon, could He?
If you are a believer, God has chosen you — not just to get by, but to help build His House. It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past. If you have come back to Him and confessed your sin, He will rejoice over you and thoroughly restore you to His purposes. Glorious, isn’t it? God’s grace covers your sin and gives you a future beyond your wildest dreams.
Have you seen the vision? Can you say, ‘O God, I want an expression of Your House in my home town’? ‘I want to see something majestic, famous and glorious so that when people walk in they know that this is God’s house!’
Are you using all your resources? There is no reason for you to think, ‘I can’t do this; it’s too much for me.’ Jesus has given you everything you could possibly need 'for life and godliness' (2 Peter 1:3). You can do all things 'through Christ who strengthens you' (Philippians 4:13). And God has also provided skilled workers. Are they being used and encouraged to bring their God-given gifts and abilities?
Are you applying yourself to the task? How is your prayer life? Taking time to be alone with God is one of the most difficult disciplines for the Christian. If you are finding prayer hard, don’t give it up, learn to do it. Grab hold of someone you know who does pray and say, ‘Can I pray with you sometime, please?’ Catch their fervour and apply yourself to prayer.
Remember your call! It is so easy to get discouraged when things get difficult. Then, of all times, you need to remember that you have been chosen by God to build His House. Since He has called you, He cannot fail or desert you.

‘He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’
(Philippians 1:6)

Do you know why you are building? Are you eagerly waiting for Jesus to return? The House — the Church, the Bride — is for Him. We are being prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
When Jesus comes again it will not be with angels singing over one small field in Bethlehem. His arrival will be announced by angels over every field, every village, every town and every city in the world, He will not be received by a handful of simple people crouching around His manger making baby noises at Him. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess; in heaven, on earth and under the earth. And their united thunderous cry, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord,’ will reverberate throughout the universe, to the glory of God the Father.
Let's be strong and courageous and make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

“God Knows You’re Human” by Terry Virgo on Amazon

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