‍“Priority…”

“superiority in rank, position, or privilege”

‍ ‍

“Option…”

“the power or right to choose: freedom of choice”

I don’t know who said this, but the statement reverberates within each one of us, in some way…

‍ ‍

“Don’t make someone a priority who makes you an option.”

‍ ‍

In your life, right now, what is your experiential, circumstantial status?

‍ ‍

Are you an option?

‍ ‍

Or are you a priority?

‍ ‍

Does it change, from person to person?

‍ ‍

Or is it a consistent, seemingly, never-changing reality, no matter who is involved in a relationship with you?

‍ ‍

These two concepts have one thing in common: they involve choice.

‍ ‍

And choice is a spiritual concept.

‍ ‍

Choose…

‍ ‍

Choose this day whom you will serve.

‍ ‍

“And if it seems evil in your? eyes to serve YHWH, choose for yourselves this day whom you? will serve, whether the gods that your? fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorite, in whose land you? are dwelling. And I and my house, we will serve YHWH!”

‍ ‍

Joshua 24:15

‍ ‍

Choose Life.

‍ ‍

“I call as witnesses against you? today the heavens and the earth that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, that you may live—you and your seed.”
Deuteronomy 30:19

‍ ‍

From the start, choice is a fact of life. The Most High chose billions of decisions, about us, about His Creation, the world, matters of justice, love, and His Divine Will.

‍ ‍

Past of those choices, of course, is that of His Son, Our Savior, Who was given the mission to save mankind, because we could not save ourselves from our sins (John 3:16).

‍ ‍

And yes, He chooses to give us choice, “free will,” the ability to decide any number of issues and… options.

‍ ‍

Options. That word can be highly triggering for so many of us.

‍ ‍

And it can start so early, often in our childhood experiences.

‍ ‍

Picked Last for teams.

‍ ‍

“These also are sayings of the wise:

‍ ‍

To show partiality in judgment

‍ ‍

is not good.”

‍ ‍

Proverbs 24:23

‍ ‍

One of the original childhood traumas: picking teams.

‍ ‍

When I was a child, I was not good at physical education class. Plus, I was overweight.

‍ ‍

Therefore, that made me less than desirable for team sports.

‍ ‍

I really hated team sports: softball, volleyball, and basketball.

‍ ‍

All the “balls.”

‍ ‍

I gained an unfortunate reputation as not being good at these sports.

‍ ‍

Therefore, I was not wanted.

‍ ‍It was sheer torture as the teacher/coach made all the kids line up, having usually designated two “captains” to “pick teams.”

‍ ‍

Of course, the most athletic, agile, and coordinated were chosen first. They were usually already in official sports, like being on the official Varsity school teams. They had the reputation, the popularity, and the acclaim as being stars and legends.

As the picking continued, there would be less enthusiasm as “the mediocre” candidates were chosen. This was usually when we would hear the captains say a lot of “Uh’s” and “Umm’s,” meaning that there was more thought about what mediocre players they could live with on their teams.

‍ ‍

They weren’t thrilled, but they knew they had to choose.

‍ ‍

And then, the lineup of kids would seriously dwindle.

‍ ‍

Eventually, it would come down to another kid, usually someone overweight or slight in stature… and me.

‍ ‍

I watched many a captain’s face of contempt, even disgust, as they looked at me. They chose the other candidate.

‍ ‍

I was always picked last.

‍ ‍

Always.

‍They were not happy having me onboard. But no one, no captain, kid, or me, had the option of “opting out.”

‍ ‍

I had to play.

‍ ‍

They had to deal with the unwanted reality.

‍ ‍

So, with the teams assembled, we would proceed to “play ball.”

‍ ‍

And it was miserable for me. I was yelled at, shot dirty looks, and heard sighs of frustration as I dropped the ball, failed at the forced physical education exercise that lasted far too long for my dignity to stay intact.

‍ ‍

I learned the lessons and “the rules.”

‍ ‍

I learned that results were what was prized.

‍ ‍

Those Golden, Athletic Children, therefore, who could execute those results were the priority. They were “Chosen.”

‍ ‍

Others, like me, were reduced to the unpopular “Option,” that of “take or leave.”

‍ ‍

Usually, they preferred “to leave.”

‍

Does this sound too familiar to you?

‍ ‍

It was gutting to learn these childhood lessons. We were regularly taught this was how the world worked.

‍ ‍

Yet, as children, we often didn’t have the knowledge of Proverbs 24:23, let alone, the bandwidth to understand, and coping skills for how to handle it.

‍ ‍

And then, we grew up.

‍ ‍

Maybe, as kids, we believed things would get easier.

‍ ‍

Well…

‍ ‍

Adulthood- Not Much Has Changed.

‍ ‍

We still are subject to choice.

‍ ‍

It may no longer show up as the humiliation of “picking teams” from our childhood days, but it still is quite real, affecting our lives, our quality of life.

‍ ‍

“These also are sayings of the wise:

‍ ‍

To show partiality in judgment

‍ ‍

is not good.”

‍ ‍

Proverbs 24:23

‍ ‍

This partiality, unfortunately, does not end once we leave school. We carry our childhood lessons and identities into adulthood.

‍ ‍

It now shows up in…

‍ ‍

Romantic, marital, interpersonal relationships…

‍ ‍

Career issues…

‍ ‍

Even Faith Challenges…

‍ ‍

“These also are sayings of the wise:

‍ ‍

To show partiality in judgment

‍ ‍

is not good.”

‍ ‍

Proverbs 24:23

‍ ‍

“Look around now,
These are the days of the beggars and the choosers,”

‍ ‍

“Praying For Time,” George Michael

‍ ‍

This is a beautiful song, but tough to listen to. Listener advisory. Just saying.

Minimized.

‍ ‍

Overlooked.

‍ ‍

Beggars and The Choosers.

‍ ‍

How do you feel about that, in your own circumstances?

‍ ‍

Are you a “Beggar?”

‍ ‍

Are you a “Chooser?”

‍ ‍

How hopeless do you feel about your life?

‍ ‍

There is hope, however.

‍ ‍

The Most High’s thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:10).

‍ ‍

And part of His ways?

‍ ‍

“…‘I now realize how true it is that The Most High does not show favoritism.’”

‍ ‍

Acts 10:34

‍ ‍

He has no preferential treatment in His Love for us. He is the Ultimate display of “Unconditional love.”

‍ ‍

After all, again, the entire point, highlighted in the famous scripture, John 3:16…

‍ ‍

He SO LOVED…

‍ ‍

He GAVE…

‍ ‍

HIS Only Son…

‍ ‍

So that we could be saved…

‍ ‍

There’s no hierarchy of human value TO that.

‍ ‍

He wants ALL OF US!

‍ ‍

“Elohim is not slow in the promise, as some esteem slowness, but is patient toward you?, not wishing for any to perish, but all to receive a place for repentance.”

‍ ‍

2 Peter 3:9

‍ ‍

Old Testament dictates further that love…

‍ ‍

“I have chosen you and have not cast you away.”

‍ ‍

Isaiah 41:9

‍ ‍

That runs so contrary to so much of what we experience, trying to be “a priority,” but only living that of an “option,” potentially, more easily, and quickly, discarded, after varying degrees of mistreatment, abuse, and neglect.

‍ ‍

No matter who and where you and I may find ourselves, struggling with the unique pain of being that undesirable “option,” our Loving Father, And our Loving Shepherd/Savior actively, enthusiastically, faithfully, and consistently choose us.

‍ ‍

Let’s pray.

‍ ‍

ABBA Father-

‍ ‍

We come to You, in The Name of Our Savior, Your Son, Yahshua.

‍ ‍

You know how we have been rejected, abandoned, overlooked, and minimized.

‍ ‍

You know how that has wounded us.

‍ ‍

Our needs were not met; and we were often mistreated.

‍ ‍

You know exactly what has happened to us.

‍ ‍

Forgive us for the unforgiveness and bitterness that we have held against them.

‍ ‍

Help us to fully forgive and heal.

‍ ‍

Help us to learn what it means to be loved and chosen by You.

‍ ‍

Thank You that You do, indeed, choose and love us.

‍ ‍

We are not dismissed as a mere “option.”

‍ ‍

We are a unique priority in Your Loving Heart and in Your Thoughts of us.

‍ ‍

We turn to You, for every bit of Your Love, Help, and Healing, as we have been hurt from being “passed over.”

Option Or Priority?

‍

‍“Priority…”

“superiority in rank, position, or privilege”

‍ ‍

“Option…”

“the power or right to choose: freedom of choice”

I don’t know who said this, but the statement reverberates within each one of us, in some way…

‍ ‍

“Don’t make someone a priority who makes you an option.”

‍ ‍

In your life, right now, what is your experiential, circumstantial status?

‍ ‍

Are you an option?

‍ ‍

Or are you a priority?

‍ ‍

Does it change, from person to person?

‍ ‍

Or is it a consistent, seemingly, never-changing reality, no matter who is involved in a relationship with you?

‍ ‍

These two concepts have one thing in common: they involve choice.

‍ ‍

And choice is a spiritual concept.

‍ ‍

Choose…

‍ ‍

Choose this day whom you will serve.

‍ ‍

“And if it seems evil in your? eyes to serve YHWH, choose for yourselves this day whom you? will serve, whether the gods that your? fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorite, in whose land you? are dwelling. And I and my house, we will serve YHWH!”

‍ ‍

Joshua 24:15

‍ ‍

Choose Life.

‍ ‍

“I call as witnesses against you? today the heavens and the earth that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, that you may live—you and your seed.” Deuteronomy 30:19

‍ ‍

From the start, choice is a fact of life. The Most High chose billions of decisions, about us, about His Creation, the world, matters of justice, love, and His Divine Will.

‍ ‍

Past of those choices, of course, is that of His Son, Our Savior, Who was given the mission to save mankind, because we could not save ourselves from our sins (John 3:16).

‍ ‍

And yes, He chooses to give us choice, “free will,” the ability to decide any number of issues and… options.

‍ ‍

Options. That word can be highly triggering for so many of us.

‍ ‍

And it can start so early, often in our childhood experiences.

‍ ‍

Picked Last for teams.

‍ ‍

“These also are sayings of the wise:

‍ ‍

To show partiality in judgment

‍ ‍

is not good.”

‍ ‍

Proverbs 24:23

‍ ‍

One of the original childhood traumas: picking teams.

‍ ‍

When I was a child, I was not good at physical education class. Plus, I was overweight.

‍ ‍

Therefore, that made me less than desirable for team sports.

‍ ‍

I really hated team sports: softball, volleyball, and basketball.

‍ ‍

All the “balls.”

‍ ‍

I gained an unfortunate reputation as not being good at these sports.

‍ ‍

Therefore, I was not wanted.

‍ ‍It was sheer torture as the teacher/coach made all the kids line up, having usually designated two “captains” to “pick teams.”

‍ ‍

Of course, the most athletic, agile, and coordinated were chosen first. They were usually already in official sports, like being on the official Varsity school teams. They had the reputation, the popularity, and the acclaim as being stars and legends.

As the picking continued, there would be less enthusiasm as “the mediocre” candidates were chosen. This was usually when we would hear the captains say a lot of “Uh’s” and “Umm’s,” meaning that there was more thought about what mediocre players they could live with on their teams.

‍ ‍

They weren’t thrilled, but they knew they had to choose.

‍ ‍

And then, the lineup of kids would seriously dwindle.

‍ ‍

Eventually, it would come down to another kid, usually someone overweight or slight in stature… and me.

“I call as witnesses against you? today the heavens and the earth that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, that you may live—you and your seed.”
Deuteronomy 30:19