#iRevAdvent: Days 21-22

…but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42 AMP

Eklegomai: to pick or choose out for oneself

Well, we have come to the end of our time together. You. Me. And the sisters. What a delightful visit we’ve had. This Advent has taught us much about the sitting and the serving. Both have been reconciled and deemed “good” when done from a posture of worship instead of worry.

But it all boils down to this one word. Eklegomai. (Pronounced ek-lego-my)

We choose.

Mary had a choice, as did Martha, and it is evident that Jesus wants us to see the clear distinction that one eklegomai is better.

Mary’s choice gave her an advantage. Positioning our heart to hear the words of Jesus is the better choice.

However, God doesn’t scream, shove or force our hand.

We EKLEGOMAI. We choose for ourselves.

Let’s take a deeper look at this game-changing word. Go ahead and practice saying it (EK-LEGO-MY) because I am about to wear it out.

What else might be a good Eklegomai in Scripture?

Jesus Himself makes a strategic Eklegomai when picking out His twelve disciples. And He sure did choose well or else I would have very little to write about here. These messengers were key players in advancing the Gospel. “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve?” John 6:70. Those twelve men made an eternal impact in all of our lives, I’d say. Wouldn’t you? Good choice, Jesus.

There is more…. Who else made an Eklegomai that mattered much? The root word for Eklegomai ἐκλελεγμένος is the greek word used on the mountain of Transfiguration. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” Luke 9:35. Y’all. I can hardly stand it. God calls Jesus THE EKLEGOMAI. Jesus is The Chosen One. #chills

Are you still with me? So far we have God the Father introducing us to the Eklegomai (The Chosen One) on the mountain. Who in turn eklegomais (chooses) His twelve disciples. But look who else is involved in this little equation of choice…..

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4

Do you see it? You are tucked in there, too. You, my friend, are the eklegomai in Christ.

Side note: When I was in elementary school, I was the teeniest person in every one of my classes. Picture little me: bad perm, super small and extremely un-athletic. I don’t know when I hit a growth spurt, but I’m thinking it was high school graduation. This meant recess games were the WORST. Why? Because no one intentionally picks the runts for their side. And my sweet teachers, love them, NEVER had intuition enough to recognize that “Hey NO ONE picks Becky. She is the last to be chosen for games. I wonder if this hurts her feelings?” So seriously, tug of war, kick ball and red rover were always kinda sad because I was always on someone’s team by default.

Well. Thank goodness for Ephesians 1:4 which undoes all those grade school memories. I am CHOSEN by God. Holy. Without fault in His eyes. I do imagine He’d pick me first for Red Rover, don’t you?

You too, right? He calls our name and picks us first! Fist bump!

And speaking of kickball, here’s the kicker, friends.

We, the chosen in Christ, must turn RIGHT BACK around and EKLEGOMAI HIM.

Drop the pin on this.

We, the eklegomai in Christ, must decide to eklegomai THE EKLEGOMAI. Again and again.

I know this is a mouthful. But let it soak.

Mary and Martha, two chosen women, had a decision to make. And one Eklegomaied better.

Mary chose Jesus.

Same living room. Same moment.

Two different Eklegomai.