The Concept of Being Chosen
The word "candidate" doesn't appear in Scripture, yet the concept of being selected or chosen for a specific purpose is deeply woven throughout God's Word. In the Old Testament, we see God choosing individuals for particular callings. Abraham was called to be the father of nations (Genesis 12:1-3), Moses was chosen to lead Israel from bondage (Exodus 3:10), and David was anointed as king while still a shepherd boy (1 Samuel 16:12-13). Each of these men was a "candidate" in God's eyes—selected not because of their qualifications or worthiness, but because of God's sovereign purpose and grace.
In the New Testament, Jesus himself selected His twelve apostles, and Paul writes extensively about this divine selection. In John 15:16, Jesus tells His disciples, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last." This beautiful passage reminds us that being chosen by God for His work is fundamentally about His initiative, not our merit. We are candidates for God's kingdom work because He has first chosen us and called us into fellowship with His Son (1 Corinthians 1:9).
Election and Responsibility
The doctrine of election—God's choosing of His people—appears prominently in Scripture and can seem mysterious to modern readers. Paul addresses this directly in Romans 9, explaining that God's selection is not based on human effort or desire, but on His mercy (Romans 9:16). Yet this doesn't eliminate human responsibility. Rather, being a candidate for God's work means we're called to respond to His grace with obedience and faithfulness.
Peter encourages us to "make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10), suggesting that while God does the choosing, we participate by developing spiritual character and living faithfully. When we're conscious of being candidates chosen by God—whether for church leadership, vocational ministry, or simply faithful Christian living—we're invited to cultivate virtues like self-control, perseverance, godliness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). The candidate for God's work, then, is one who recognizes their selection and responds with dedicated obedience.
Practical Application for Today
Whether you're considering a role in church leadership, discerning a call to ministry, or simply wanting to understand your place in God's plan, remember that you are a candidate in His eyes. This is immensely encouraging! You don't need to earn your way into God's purposes through perfect qualifications. Like Moses, who felt inadequate, or Jeremiah, who was young, or Timothy, who was timid—God chooses unlikely candidates and equips them through His Holy Spirit.
If you sense God calling you toward a specific service or leadership role, approach it with humility and prayer. Seek wise counsel from mature believers. Develop the character qualities Scripture commends. And trust that God's election of you is secure and purposeful, regardless of how inadequate you might feel.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last." — John 15:16 (NIV)