students of jesus

How well I remember filling out the application form as I waited my turn to be born. 

Preferred gender? I checked “Male.”

Preferred era? I wrote, “Twentieth century, second half.”

I filled out the pre-birth form completely. I selected my ethnic preference, the socio-economic status of my parents, and everything that went into making me the person I am. I was thrilled when all my requests came back approved! Moments later I slipped out of heaven into Midwest America, 1955. 

Wait—you didn’t get to choose your gender, race, strength or smarts? Well, me neither, really—I made all that stuff up. Lame, I know. Yet lamer still is the amount of time we spend lamenting our genetics or our heritage. Did any one of us have a say in who we are and how we were made? 

And yet, someone did have a say in such matters. The Creator. The sovereign God selected the circumstances of our conception and birth: time and place, gender and race. It was his call. “For you created my inmost being,” said King David. “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Have you considered how much of your life is the result of God's choice for you--his good and perfect will? Our lives grow from the roots of God’s plan. It’s wonderful news. It caused David to sing in worship, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

David knew it full well; he responded in praise. How about us?

Ask Yourself: Have I ever lamented the time and place of my birth; have I ever said to the Maker, “Why did you make me thus?”

Live Into It: Sometimes, when I look in the mirror, I give myself the warmest smile I can, simply to make up for all those times I've been critical of the man I see. (Although, to be completely honest I should tell you I still wish I was given Einstein’s brain and Brad Pitt’s looks—instead of the other way around.)