Your Daily Slice

Tishri 7

Called AND Chosen

“For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are CHOSEN.”  (Mat 22:14 AMPC, emphasis mine)

There is an annual event televised internationally, a gala pageantry, recognized as the “Miss Universe” contest.  Countries from all over the world participate in this pageant, choosing, then sending their most beautiful and talented young ladies.  A process of elimination brings it down to the eventual winner of the competition, the one who will wear the crown for the coming year. From several hundred attractive and stunning women, only one is chosen.

In the Book of Esther, there was a similar pageant, but the prize for this was the crown of a Queen.  There is no record of exactly how many virgins were ‘called and summoned’ to this contest, but according to the Scriptures, Esther was the one that won the king’s love and approval, and consequently was chosen to become Queen (Est 2:17).

There were ten virgins – attendants – who, with their lamps, were to meet the bridegroom (see Mat 25:1-13).  They were all “called”, or invited, but only five were chosen to go in the bridal chamber.

There were twelve disciples called by our Master, but only three chosen to accompany Him to the Mount of Transfiguration, and later, to the Garden of Gethsemane.

What do we have to do to qualify to be chosen?

“Yeshua answered him, "If someone loves me, he will KEEP my WORD; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23 CJB, emphasis mine)

Abba, Father, we love You, and we thank You for all that YOU have done for us, and continue to do.  We gladly lay down our lives, and bow our knees to You, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Help us to live our lives according to Your Word, Your Torah, and may we always bring You praise, honor and glory.  In His Name, Yeshua HaMashiach, we pray.

“But you are a CHOSEN race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation, a people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who CALLED you out of darkness into His marvellous light ...” (1Pet 2:9 ISR, emphasis mine)

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