Most things in life come with qualifications. You have to graduate at this level and have this many years under your belt, and you have to take this course or the other. You have to qualify in order to get certain positions.
What qualifies someone to be chosen by God? Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, was chosen to perform a great task. At first glance, it seems she was unprepared for it, but God chose her.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” (Luke 1:30)
That was no simple task. You can imagine that came with great responsibility—even Mary knew it. While preparing for her wedding, great news came to her, but she received the assurance that she was indeed not alone and that God had chosen her.
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)
Nor are you alone. God is with you just as he was with her because you are also chosen. Despite everything Mary was going through, that did not change the fact that God wanted to use her greatly. Perhaps you are thinking about your past, all the mistakes you have made, all the things you have done, but God does not look at the past. He looks at what He has prepared for you, and just like Mary, the only prerequisite is to trust in Him. Nothing that happens is by chance; you were already chosen.
May the God of the Bible bless you!
Bishop Bira Joshua
