You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” vs. 16
John 15:13-17
When we hear that Jesus has chosen us to be his disciples we are not surprised. It’s a familiar part of the gospel story that we’ve grown up with. We know that we have been called to proclaim the good news to all the world. It’s who we are, we are the chosen people! But in practice our thinking is often twisted, and many actually seem to believe that they have chosen Jesus. Some can even point to the hour and the minute when they gave themselves up to the Lord. It’s like we say, “I’m pleased to tell you Jesus that after considering a multitude of alternatives, I have decided to follow in your footsteps.” Included in that process will be a number of choices, first, a denomination, and then, after shopping around for a bit, we choose a congregation. What often gets lost for us in all of that is a sense of call. And that isn’t how Jesus operates. In truth, he chooses us, equips us with every good gift, and then appoints us to produce enduring fruit. And that makes all the difference in the world. And while we may not like this–we’d rather be in charge of our destiny–those who humbly acknowledge their call, will find great joy in blooming where they are planted.
Thought for the Day: When did Jesus choose me?
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