28 Apr, 2008
Chosen by God!
Jake Long, Chris Long, Matt Ryan selected 1-2-3 in NFL draft
NEW YORK (AP) — Forget the intrigue at the top of the draft. The NFL invited a half-dozen players to the draft Saturday, and they went in the first six picks. Then things went a bit crazy.
From Michigan tackle Jake Long, who already had signed with the Miami Dolphins, to defensive end/linebacker Vernon Gholston going sixth to the New York Jets, there was an air of predictability to the proceedings. Unlike last year, when Notre Dame's Brady Quinn had to wait hours to be chosen, the players on-hand hit the Radio City Music Hall stage quickly.
"It's a blessing to be here, they only ask six guys to come," Gholston added. "Funny how it worked out, teams made good selections."
After St. Louis took the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long, Matt Ryan of Boston College, who could solve the quarterback problems in Atlanta, went to the Falcons.
Everything moved at a good pace after the NFL cut the first round from 15 minutes per pick to 10. The first round took 3 hours, 30 minutes, a significant improvement over the five-hour marathons of previous years.
The Dolphins used only a few seconds to hand in their card. The Rams and Falcons didn't take much longer, but the Raiders used almost their entire time, as did Kansas City.
Not that Jake Long had any worries. He signed a five-year contract with the Dolphins this week worth $57.75 million, $30 million of it guaranteed.
photo & story courtesy ap.google.com, 4/26/08
Ephesians 1:3-4 (NLT)
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about being chosen by God?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain it this way:
1:4 Paul says that God "chose us" to emphasize that salvation depends totally on God. We are not saved because we deserve it but because God is gracious and freely gives salvation... there is no way to take credit for our salvation or to allow room for pride. The mystery of salvation originated in the timeless mind of God long before we existed. It is hard to understand how God could accept us. But because of Christ, we are holy and blameless in his sight. God chose us, and when we belong to him through Jesus Christ, God looks at us as if we had never sinned. All we can do is express our thanks for his wonderful love.
I can't relate to these college football stars who spent last weekend waiting to see if they would be chosen in the NFL draft and by which team? When I was a kid, I was happy if I wasn't the last one picked to be on a team when we would choose up sides during recess or a backyard game.
Paul is teaching us that God did not choose us for our goodness or abilities. We've been "picked" to know Christ, because of God's amazing grace.
Some football players will experience the glory and riches that go along with making it in the NFL.
None of us would make it to Heaven on our own, but because we were chosen in Christ, we will experience the glory and riches that go along with being God's children.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Take a couple of minutes to reflect on the fact that God's love for you is so great, that He chose you to know Him through Christ. Think about His unconditional love for you. Be amazed by His grace. Look forward to seeing Him face to face some day. Now just listen to His voice. Worship Him....
- Read today's passage every day this weekend and meditate on God's amazing love for you.
- Write down a list of ways you have already experienced the "blessings" of being chosen to be on God's team. Review this whenever you are feeling sort of left out in the world around you.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Do you know another follower of Jesus who is feeling sort of left out? Share today's DAILYBIDE with him or her and offer your encouragement and prayer.
- Identify a friend at school or where you work or a family member who needs Jesus. If her or she is interested in God's Story, use today's story about the NFL Draft as a conversation starter about being chosen for riches and glory as a child of God.
- Use this DAILYBIDE as a study in your youth group or small group.
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