The Cost of Being Chosen

The Cost of Being Chosen
 
© 2021 Dr. Samaria M Colbert
 
Matthew 22:14 For many are called but few are chosen.
 
To be chosen means to be called out, to decide on to settle on, to be hand-picked, elected, and to make one’s mind up. For many years I never understood what the statement called but few chosen meant. I thought within myself if I called you doesn’t it mean I chose you. So doesn’t that mean you have been chosen?
 
Not quite, I know it sounds confusing. Then I heard Benny Hinn do a teaching on this very thing and it made sense. It means many have been invited, but few chosen. It is those who have been properly prepared that are the chosen. Let me explain.
 
According to the text in Matthew 22, it is the parable of the wedding feast. Say at the feast you invite a lot of people, but there are a few certain one’s who you expect to show up like close friends and family. In the parable in Matthew 22, the king’s son is getting married, and he invites people.  Let’s call these people the called. However, many of them reject the invitation. They all had some excuse as to why they couldn’t show up. Some either ignored the invitation, others treated the servants who invited the guess shamefully, even killing the servants. All because of an invitation. The wealthy king couldn’t be deterred so he invited everyone, including guest that were not originally invited. Most of us know that if you attend a wedding, whether you are the selected guest or not you dress up for a wedding. A few people show up without any type of wedding gear on. Talk about disrespect. Imagine someone showing up to your wedding with yesterday’s clothes on and smelling like they hadn’t bathed. Well, that is an analogy to the parable in Matthew 22.
 
The king was so shocked he threw the guest out that had no wedding entire on.
 
The meaning of the statement many are called few are chosen really means that many are invited (the called), however it is those who have been properly processed and prepared that have been qualified to be the chosen. The chosen does not mean those who were initially invited, rather it was those who have responded to the invitation, prepared, and then presented themselves at the feast.
 
It is when you are prepared, meaning you have been washed by the blood of Jesus. You have endured challenges, test, and trials. You have passed through the process of pain that you are now called the elect of God.
 
How do you know you have been qualified to be the chosen?
 

1. You are different. You see things differently. You are the odd ball out.
2. You have survived what most people would have given up on. You have been prepared.
3. You have endured great opposition, challenges, and test.

Endurance means to suffer through something painfully and difficult patiently.

1. You have been rejected by those who were once close to you and yet you still survived and even thrived.
2. You love God deeply and profoundly. Your relationship with God is not a Sunday morning relationship. You would go wherever he tells you because you are madly in love with him.
3. Your mentality is whatever it takes.
4. Your preparation causes you to produce. You have fruit of your hard work and effort.
5. You’ve endured persecution. Remember persecution is a part of the preparation process.
6. You are clear about your purpose, assignment and that is what drives you.
7. You have been marked. You can’t do what other people do.
8. You have been chastened by God.
9. You paid the cost. (endurance)
10. People are jealous of you because of the favor of God that is on your life. They want your promise but won’t endure your process. They secretly wonder why you are chosen and not them.

 
 
Your cost has been great, but you can truly say despite the pain it has been worth it.
 
Luke 14:28 New King James Version
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--
Living for Jesus is not easy, but it is worth it.

My words for you are simple. There are some of you who will read this blog who have endured one of the most painful seasons of your life. For everything you have endured God has qualified you.
Great favor is getting ready to manifest in your life because God can trust you with his heart, therefore he can trust you with what is in his hand.

Because your heart is right before God, he rewards your faithfulness. The world is getting ready to be in greater anguish because of what is getting ready to happen. (yes, I do know but chose not to write about it in this blog)

While the world is crying, you’ll be rejoicing. Divine wealth transfers are getting ready to happen. Exposure is coming but it is not meant to embarrass you, but to propel you, into your kingdom assignment.
God delights in you.
 
© 2021 Dr. Samaria M Colbert