March
10, 2003
I
CHOSE YOU
"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"
(John 15:16, NKJV).
The disciples
had chosen to be followers of Christ, but it was Jesus who
from His many followers had selected twelve to be His apostles.
"And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself;
and from them He chose twelve who He also named apostles"
(Luke 6:13).
All may
choose to follow Jesus, but it is He who chooses and qualifies
men and women to be disciples for Him and bear fruit for the
kingdom, which is making more friends and disciples for God
and for eternity. God disperses gifts for building up the
body of Christ. "There are diversities of gifts, but
the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but
the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but
it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation
of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all"
(1 Chorinthians 12:4-7).
God equips
all His disciples (followers) for the work of ministry. We
are one body, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body, whether Jews or Greeks", however, "in
fact the body is not one member but many"
"Now
indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot
say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; nor again the head
to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' No, much rather, those
members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary...
If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or
if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
"Now
you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And
God has appointed these in the church: First apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts
of healings, helps, administration, varieties of tongues...
earnestly desire the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:13,
14, 20-22, 26-28, 31).
We belong.
We have been chosen by God through Christ, and we all have
a part to play in the building up of the Body of Christ. And
Christ's assurance and promise is "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." And "and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age"
(John 15:16; Matthew 28:20).
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