“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (Jo 15:16).
The theme of the glorious imbalance of our relationship with Jesus is developed further here. In our pride, we would presume that we are saved because we decided to follow Jesus. However, the Bible says, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jo 6:44). Those of us in ministry must humble ourselves and accept that we are able to do what we do and we are what we are purely by the grace of God. “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10). We’ll not live for Christ as we should, nor can we serve Him as we must, unless we understand that He chose us for this faith-life and ministry. A good awareness of God’s favour and selection of us will produce a sense of humility and accountability. To Him alone be glory in the church, now and evermore!
Pastor Josh