WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
OCTOBER 02, 2026
TOPIC: GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU
BY T. O. BANSO
“Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain, why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever?” (Psalm 68:15-16, New International Version).
Divine choice is real. When God chooses someone, it’s not necessarily because of the excellent qualities the person thinks he possesses or that people think he possesses. God chooses people for salvation and assignments.
If you are born again, don’t think you were saved because you are better than those who are not yet saved. God chose you. Ephesians 1:4 says that even before the world was made, God had already chosen believers to be His through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before Him. Verse 11 says, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”
As 1 Peter 2:9 says, we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His special people,” that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30, New International Version). God has chosen you.
You are born again because you were chosen, and you answered the call. “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29, New King James Version).
Jesus told His disciples that He chose them. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19, New King James Version). Without God, nobody can be saved, but each person must come to Him to receive the salvation offered to all.
Others who are called but haven’t answered can still give their hearts to Jesus because He died to save the world, including them. Titus 2:11 says that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. God wants everyone to be saved; He is not willing that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). Election, or divine choice, depends on God’s mercy. It is “not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” (Romans 9:16). Nevertheless, each person must come to Jesus, and He will by no means cast out whoever comes to Him (John 6:37b).
Psalm 68:15-16 says, “Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain, why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever?” (New International Version).
The Scripture above mentions two mountains—the mountains of Bashan and the mountain where God chooses to reign and dwell forever, believed to be Mount Zion. The New Living Translation puts the verses this way: “The mountains of Bashan are majestic, with many peaks stretching high into the sky. Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains, at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live, where the Lord himself will live forever?”
According to this scripture, the mountains of Bashan were majestic and rugged. They were higher than Mount Zion. Nevertheless, God chose Mount Zion as His dwelling place, not the mountains of Bashan. God is not impressed by outward appearance. He does not see the way humans see (1 Samuel 16:7). Thus, He rejected David’s seven older brothers and chose David, the youngest (verses 7–13). God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak things to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). He bypasses the proud for the humble. He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). You cannot question God’s choice, and anyone God has chosen must never think that he deserves it. Mount Zion must not think it deserves to be chosen. God decided to choose it.
God chose Abraham (Genesis 18:19). The New King James Version says, “For I have known him.” God chose Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6). The Lord told Israel, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2, New King James Version).
God chose Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. “‘In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of hosts.” (Haggai 2:23, New King James Version).
God also chose Mary to give birth to Jesus. She, most probably, was not the only virgin in her family at the time the Angel Gabriel visited 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 1:30-31, New King James Version).
After Paul’s conversion on the way to Damascus, he lost his sight, and God sent Ananias, a certain disciple, to him. But Ananias told God that he had heard from many about the man (Saul), how much harm he had done to God’s saints in Jerusalem, and how he had authority from the chief priests to bind all who called on God’s name (Acts 9:11-14). “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.’” (Verse 15, New King James Version). Saul of Tarsus was a chosen vessel.
In Acts 22, Paul referred to what Ananias said when he came to him. “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’” (Acts 22:14-16, New International Version). God chose Paul for the ministry that He entrusted to him.
In Romans 16:13, Paul described Rufus as “chosen in the Lord.” In the Bible, God chose other people for specific assignments. This is also true today. God offers salvation freely to everyone and has chosen people for different purposes on earth. When God chooses someone for an assignment or visitation, the person should respond to Him. You must not envy him. You may think the person is not qualified, but God doesn’t need your assessment, evaluation, or opinion.
In addition to salvation, which God has chosen you and everybody for, He has also chosen you for something to do on earth. Others, like the mountains of Bashan, may appear more qualified than you, but God has chosen you. The important thing is to discover what God has chosen you for, fulfil His counsel, and not disappoint Him. Be faithful. Those given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must repent of your sins and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life—your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You for choosing me, especially for my salvation. Holy Spirit, help me discover the assignment God has chosen me for, fulfil it, and not disappoint Him. I will not envy anyone but pray that everyone will fulfil God’s purpose for his life.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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