For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. — Romans 5:19

I have no doubt that many of us recall playing games as kids where we would choose teams or sides. I remember playing basketball during our recess time and we would choose the teams that we would play on. Sometimes you were chosen for a good team, sometimes you were chosen for the bad team. There was always someone that was chosen last, and I heard stories about some that were never chosen at all.

I was usually not the first person selected. I loved sports and I was told I played the various games decently well. It was not for the lack of my competitive spirit! In everything I did, I was competitive and I wanted to be the best. Some of those who would choose the teams valued what I brought to the game more than others.

Throughout life we go through situations where we are chosen or selected based on who we are or what we bring to the situation. We are chosen for jobs based on our skills. Each of us make our own choices based on skills or features. Most people want their car or house to have specific things.

As I reflect on the verse today, I am so glad that our Savior was not necessarily concerned with features and abilities. In the verse, it speaks of Jesus obedience. He had a choice in whether He would die for the sins of all men. He could have chosen to only die for a certain group, or those with the more attractive features.

Instead, scripture tells us that He chose to die for the sins of all. He specifically chose all sinners. Each of us were not the second choice or last choice. You were His first choice! Today, praise God for a Savior who chose to die for all sin and make us His first choice!

Jared Dyson