March 11

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. — 1 Pet 2:9 BSB

Lately, we’ve been thinking a lot about how God is calling a special group out of a people who are already called. The word "ecclesia," meaning church, refers to the "called-out ones," but God is now calling an even more select group from within the church to be His bride—the specially prepared ones for His return.

We see an example of this in the story of Gideon. When he first blew the trumpet of Abiezer, more than thirty thousand men gathered to him. However, they needed to be chosen, so a first test of courage was applied, and all but ten thousand went home. But even then, another selection had to be made, testing their prudence, caution, and focus, and all but three hundred were sent away. With this small, chosen band, Gideon raised the standard against the Midianites and, through the power of God, achieved a glorious victory. In the same way today, the Master is choosing His three hundred, and through them, He will win the world. Let’s make sure we are among the fully committed.