This story has been on my mind for quite some time. The gratitude and humility that comes along with this story are eternal. The details may be a bit vague because they are not all my own.

Last week, I shared the story of Rufus of Cyrene with you. Rufus was the son of Simon of Cyrene, whom you may recognize as the bearer of Christ’s cross in his final stages to Golgotha. I loved how this moment in time probably had an effect on Simon and in turn on his sons.

How has God been intertwined into your story? How has He made provision to get to His chosen child?

In Rufus’s story, we see that He was chosen. Any child of Christ is chosen but the use of this word in the story of Rufus means hand-picked with intention. Pretty Awesome!

I love this version in the Aramaic Bible in Plain English of Ephesians 1:4  Just as he chose us beforehand in him from before the foundation of the universe, that we shall be holy and without spot before him, and he ordained us beforehand in love for himself.

Not only chosen to be holy and spotless before a perfect God, but He chose us before the foundation of the universe. Does that not make your heart skip a beat?

My paternal grandfather was stationed in Australia during World War II. During his time there he met my grandmother and they later married. She remained there until she and their firstborn daughter were able to come to live in the states. My grandpa was one of two men that made it back to the states from his troop in Wisconsin.

My maternal grandfather left for WWII a married man. As many men of that time, they married before they left to have someone to write home to. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor but due to the command of his officer, his aircraft carrier, left two days prior to the attacks to practice in the open water. His ship, however, did not escape the war and was sunk. After abandoning the ship and spending time waiting for a rescue they were left in open water for hours.

Surviving the war, my grandpa returned to an empty home and no marriage and in time met my grandmother, who survived the depression in part by eating cabbage they had picked up from the railroad tracks.

From those two families came my mother and my father. My mother and father were young when they were married and so they moved into the upstairs apartment of my maternal grandparents.

Neither of my maternal grandparents were saved when they began their relationship but over the years, they had people who influenced their lives and invited them to church.  My grandma was saved first and my grandpa always joked that my grandma nagged him into heaven.

Two of the most faithful people that I have ever known. I grew up in the upstairs apartment and had the privilege of being with them daily for all my childhood and teen years.

My mother was also saved when she was a small child and took us to church weekly for all of our lives and loved us unconditionally.

My story may not seem that exciting to many people but knowing it is my story, knowing what God does to get to His chosen, sends my heart over the moon.

Realizing the hard times my grandma faced throughout her life. I look back at the fact that my other grandma was found on the other side of the world. My two grandfathers miraculously survived WWII.

Reading the story of Rufus I am so fascinated. I see he was chosen by God before the foundations of the world. What did God do to influence his life? Did He use his father, Simon, to bear His cross and teach his sons what those words truly meant?

As a believer in Jesus Christ, we are also chosen.

I can look at just my brief history and ask, “How has God intervened to get me where I am today?” He saved the lives of my grandparents. He made their paths cross. He allowed me to grow up in their faithful influence, and He has allowed me to minister to the hearts of many children and now adults all over the world through the internet.

I don’t always know the exact path God has chosen for me, but He does. He planned it before I was a thought in this world and He made it possible for me to do what I do today. To live out what I believe He has purposed and equipped me to do.

Just like Rufus, I have had faithful influences in my life that have helped lead me to my decision to also be a follower of Christ.

Has God hand-picked me with intent like Rufus? I don’t know. Maybe He handpicked one of my children or great grandchildren and he is going to use generations of faithful people to get to them.

One day, at the day of my completion, when I meet Him face-to-face, all I can hope for is He will be able to say well done good and faithful servant.

How have you seen God influence your life or the generations leading up to your life to get you where you are today? How are you influencing the lives of those around you to further the kingdom for God’s Glory?
No matter where you are or what your are doing, God has a purpose for your life. I hope you will take some time to reflect on His intervention and maybe even write your own Rufus story.