I have had a favorite devotional book for years. Daily Light by Bagster and Lotz is a morning and evening compilation of verses linked together in complimenting themes. It is scripture alone, and it has been my source and guide for really meditating on and praying through God’s Word.
Last week, while praying through my Daily Light devotional, I found new understanding in this verse:
“This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.” Isaiah 43:21 (NKJV)
In this verse, God is talking about His chosen people, Israel; He is also talking about you and me. God formed His chosen people and let’s not forget that He also chose them. He formed them and He selected them to be His very own. We need to observe and remember that He formed everyone. He created everything, but in His wisdom and goodness, He chose a segment for Himself. This was a purposeful choice. This choice is not all-inclusive. The word “This” is specific and limited. The verse does not read, “All people I have formed for myself”. Being included in or excluded from “This” group is hard to understand. As little as I know, I know this: God is always good. His ways are higher than my ways and they are perfect. I am undeserving but immensely blessed to be chosen by Him. He formed me. He died for me. He paid the price for my sins. He conquered death for me. He opened my eyes to His truth and He filled me with His Spirit. He did this for Himself and I am humbled and grateful that He did.
Most of you have found my blog through Facebook. If you are on Facebook, you have very likely been exposed to the happy pictures of engagements and those of girls celebrating their sororities. When a young woman is proposed to, she posts pictures of her ring and her groom. We see young men Instagram pictures with his affianced and add the title, “She said Yes!”. When a young girl is selected by a sorority, we are flooded with pictures of their new sisters and hand signals and colors and letters. All of these pictures are celebrating the joy of being chosen.
The engaged couples make it very clear to all of us who the groom is and who the bride is. The pledge makes certain we know which sorority chose her. There is no confusion and no inhibitions in the declaration of these relationships. Every time we are introduced to these celebrations, the chosen person tells us why her fiancé is so wonderful. We witness how beautiful the groom believes his bride to be. We know which co-ed pledged Chi-O and Tri-Delt and Theta. We would be obtuse to not recognize the difference, because the girls are thrilled to make it crystal clear. They know the honor of being chosen and they are excited to shout about it.
“This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.” Isaiah 43:21 (NKJV)
Celebrating being chosen by God to be one of His special family members is a much bigger deal than being chosen by my husband or my college sorority and I am ashamed that I don’t always declare it. His people declare His praise. I often quiet my voice because I want people to like me. I would love for more people to read and share my blog and so I sometimes guard my passion in order to have my words be more palatable to a wider group of people.
This verse convicted me. I should celebrate like a sorority girl. I should be twitter-paited like a bride. I have been chosen! God created me to praise Him and to enjoy praising Him. Declaring His praise is the beautiful way others can learn about Him. I am not bragging about my family membership, because I didn’t do anything to deserve it. I’m not bragging, but celebrating… and as a family member, I am blessed to invite anyone who will listen to come and meet my Dad and join the family. My goal should never be to seek the approval and praise of people, but instead, it should be to seek people to join me in the Praise!
Oh precious family members, there is so much to celebrate. God is so good. He knew what He was doing when He formed you for Himself, so sing about it. Sing like a sorority girl. Dance like a chosen and beautiful bride. Shout like a happy groom. Enjoy what you were created to do and who you were chosen and created to be. It is a celebration to be chosen.