Romans 9:25-26

"As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."
Romans 9:25-26


This is a very interesting chapter... if you are into trying to understand foreordination, even more so.
Anyway, I love these verses... it makes me think of Christ leaving the ninety and nine and going after the lost sheep... illustrating how even the rejected of God can return.  Nothing in life is ever final.  While we breathe, we have hope... that we can change, that we can become increasingly better people.  No matter how hardened, how resistant, how many times we have offended our God... no matter how un-beloved, we can still become beloved.  These scriptures are talking about how even Gentiles can be accepted, but it can apply to anyone.  just like in the Book of Mormon... when they were disobedient they became Lamanites, and when they were good, they became Nephites.  The lines were a lot more fluid then strictly genealogical.  So it is with being chosen of God.  God chooses us, and we screw up... absolutely.  Sometimes doing the opposite of what God asked... but if we repent, and do what we can to rectify the situation, then we are still chosen.  God doesn't judge us the way the world judges us.  In college if you screw up big-time sometimes the prof will let you make it up... but now you are playing for a B, not an A.  God doesn't do that.  When God accepts you, he accepts you fully and wholeheartedly... no bitterness or grudges over past mistakes, no lesser status.  Anything that we could have had in the eternities we can still have... we are beloved and chosen... the prodigal son returns and is still the son, empowered to receive all that the father hath.  Sometimes Satan whispers to us that we are already going to Hell, so really, none of it matters... we might as well live however we feel like at the time... but we are not cast off, we are not condemned to Hell... and we should never give up on becoming who we can be.  While we live, there is always hope.  So, today... if you aren't feeling particularly beloved, remember... your place is being held for you, in hope that you will return.  There is always a job for you to do if you will come back and pick up where you left off.  We can change the world, build the kingdom, and become anything that we want to be... no matter how much we have helped to destroy... no matter who or where we are now.