But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. — Acts 9:15
There are many times that people will ask me the question of why bad things happen to good people. It seems that in this life, Christians suffer tremendously. Each of us can no doubt think of people who have had cancer, sickness, and suffering amid their walk with Christ.
Those times remind me of Paul. In Acts 9:16, scripture talks about the suffering that Paul would go through for the sake of Christ’s name. That statement comes immediately after verse 15, which states that Paul is a chosen vessel.
Being chosen of God does not mean that life is going to become easy. It is not being the “favorite” of God so that you are blessed with riches and health. Instead, it means fully trusting Him and being used by Him in all things.
Part of being a chosen vessel may mean him bringing difficulty and challenges into your life. Things that will pressure your faith, but also bring about opportunities for you to tell others about Him. Because that’s what challenges do. They bring about opportunities to let others see God through you.
When you accept Christ as Savior, God has a purpose and plan for you. He has chosen you to be a vessel for Him, for a specific purpose. Are you willing to let Him use you, or are you avoiding the purpose of God in your life?
