January 19, 2026 Devo

Have you ever wanted to be “picked?” Maybe it was when you were a kid, and you were smaller or slower or not as athletic as the rest of the kids. So when they were choosing teams, you weren’t chosen. Some team just got “stuck” with you. Or maybe when you were in school. After feeling like an idiot most of the time, the teacher finally asks a question to which you know the answer. So your hand shoots up, and you wave it, hoping she will call on you. But, of course, she doesn’t. Wanting to be “picked” plays out in dozens of ways through life, from relationships you want to be in to jobs you want to have. “Pick me!” is the lifelong cry for many of our hearts.
But what if I told you HAVE been picked? Not just by anyone, but by God Himself. If you have received Christ as your Savior, you are one of God’s CHOSEN people. Think about that. Chosen. Chosen to be a part of the Family of God. Chosen to have a place at the table with The King. Chosen to walk with Him, talk with Him, and grow in Him. Chosen to be transformed daily into the likeness of Jesus Christ. When you come to Christ, He comes to you, changing you from the inside out.
Isaiah reminds us today of another part of being chosen by God. The Lord not only works IN us, He works THROUGH us! Take another look at our verse for today. "Then I heard the Lord asking, 'Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?' I said, 'Here I am. Send me.'” Can you hear the “Pick me!” in Isaiah’s voice? God needs a spokesperson to carry a very important message to His People. So this became the day Isaiah discovered just what He was “chosen” to do. God had worked in him for some time now. It was time to allow God to work through him.
Maybe it’s time for you as well. WE are the vessels God uses to accomplish His work. And He is at work ALL AROUND US! The problem is that many love being chosen into the family, but we don’t want to get involved in the family business. God has work He wants to do in your family. He has people He wants to touch where you work. God has much He wants to do in your church, in your neighborhood, and all around your community. The voice of the Lord is asking today, “Who will go for us?” I double-dog dare you to echo the response of Isaiah. “Here I am…Pick me!” That’s God’s Word for you today. (If you’d like more on this, you can watch or listen to my current sermon series, “Pick Me!” at shartelchurch.org, on our Shartel Church of God app, or on my website at godswordforyoutoday.com.)