Max Lucado - He Chose You

2001 Max Lucado.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations used in this book are from The Holy Bible, New Century Version (NCV) 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75234. Used by permission.

Other Scripture references are used by permission from the following sources:
The Contemporary English Version (CEV), 1995 by the American Bible Society. The International Childrens Bible, New Century Version (ICB), 1986, 1989, 1999 by Tommy Nelson, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Message (MSG), 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson, NavPress Publishing Group. The New English Bible (NEB), 1961, 1970 by the delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press in England. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), 1973, 1978, 1984 by New York International Bible Society, Zondervan Bible Publishers. The King James Version of the Bible (KJV). The New King James Version (NKJV), 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. The Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. The New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV), 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. J. B. Phillips: The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition (PHILLIPS), J. B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972 by The Macmillian Company. The Good News Bible: Todays English Version (TEV), 1966, 1971, 1976 by the American Bible Society. The Living Bible (TLB), 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers.

ISBN 978-1-4185-8710-9 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lucado, Max.

He chose you / Max Lucado ; with story adaptations by Monica Hall.

p. cm.

Based on He chose the nails by Max Lucado.

Summary: Combines passages from the authors book, He Chose the Nails, with stories which explore Christs love for human beings as evidenced in various aspects of his Crucifixion.

ISBN 978-0-8499-7789-3

1. Christian childrenReligious life. 2. Christian teenagersReligious life. 3. Jesus ChristPerson and officesJuvenile literature. [1. Jesus ChristPerson and offices.

2. Christian life.] I. Hall, Monica. II.Title.

BV4571.3 .L83 2001

232dc21

2001044850

08 09 10 11 12 DPI 19 18 17 16 15

To the Youth Program
of the Oak Hills Church of Christ

Keep it up! You guys are awesome.

M. L.

CONTENTS

I Will Bear Your Dark Side
(Gods Promise in the Soldiers Spit)

I Loved You Enough to Become One of You
(Gods Promise in the Crown of Thorns)

I Forgive You
(Gods Promise in the Nails)

I Will Speak to You in Your Language
(Gods Promise Through the Sign)

I Will Let You Choose
(Gods Promise Through the Two Crosses)

I Will Not Abandon You
(Gods Promise in the Path to Calvary)

I Will Give You My Robe
(Gods Promise in the Garment)

I Understand Your Pain
(Gods Promise in the Wine-Soaked Sponge)

I Invite You into My Presence
(Gods Promise Through the Torn Flesh)

I Have Redeemed You and I Will Keep You
(Gods Promise in the Blood and Water)

I Will Love You Forever
(Gods Promise in the Cross)

I Can Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph
(Gods Promise in the Burial Clothing)

I Have Won the Victory
(Gods Promise in the Empty Tomb)

This book would not exist without the inspiration and hard work of several people.

Special thanks go to the Thomas Nelson team of Laura Minchew, Beverly Phillips, and June Ford.

Special appreciation to Monica Hall for writing the contemporary application stories interspersed in the chapters.

Karen Hill, my assistant and lifesaver, did a masterful job in editing and managing.

Three young friends graciously agreed to read the book and share their opinions: Chris Clark, Courtney Kunkel, and Salena Wiley.

Of course, the greatest credit goes to Jesus, without whom wed have no story at all.

Dear Friend,

Im so grateful that you are holding this book. Over the next few pages, you and I are going to explore the greatest event in historythe cross of Christ.

No event is more crucial. For if the events of the cross are true, then the cross is the solution to every problem of life. Forgiveness of sin, deliverance from death, purpose for life: All are found at the foot of the cross.

You are to be congratulated for taking time to ponder it. May God use these pages to bless you and show you the meaning of Calvary.

Max Lucado

Long ago, even before he made the world,
God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy
and without fault in his eyes.
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into
his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
And this gave him great pleasure.
So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured
out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son.
He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom
through the blood of his Son,
and our sins are forgiven...
Gods secret plan has now been revealed to us;
it is a plan centered on Christ,
designed long ago according to his good pleasure.
And this is his plan:
At the right time he will bring everything together
under the authority of Christeverything in heaven and on earth.
Furthermore, because of Christ,
we have received an inheritance from God,
for he chose us from the beginning,
and all things happen just as he decided long ago.

EPHESIANS 1:47, 911 NLT

The gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 6:23 NIV

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 CORINTHIANS 9:15 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth,
that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

JAMES 1:1718 NIV

Edge

One cautious knee at a time, Josh crept carefully forward, took a deep breath, and looked down over the edge. (Gulp!) It sure was a long... lonnnng... way to the ground from up here. And it had seemed like such a good idea at the time. (What was he thinking?!)

He closed his eyes for a momentthis was not a good time to get dizzy!and settled back on his heels. Surely it wouldnt hurt to take just a small break before getting startedjust long enough for his stomach to settle back into place. Besides, he reminded himself, its for The Gift, so dont be such a wuss!

Josh couldnt exactly recall when it was he had the stroke of genius that brought him to this moment. But it was a good oneoccasional moment of terror or nothe decided. After all, creative solutions were his specialty. And this was a doozy! Which is exactly what you need when youre too young for a real job and want to come up with a very special gift for a very special someone.

Just thinking about her made him smile. Being with her somehow always turned into an adventureshe found something to enjoy, or learn from, or celebrate in even the most ordinary things. And when she looked at him with those dazzling blue eyes and smiled at something he said or did, he felt ten feet tall. Because when she looked at him, she saw something... wonderful.