Daily Devotional ~ Chosen
Worship: If you'd like to play a song before you begin or while you read, may we recommend "Fountain (I Am Good)" by Mosaic MSC. Why not try asking alexa, siri, or google to play it for you?!
Daily Verse: You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
☆ John 15:16 NLT
Let's Talk About It: This verse took my breath away this morning. It wasn't the promise of getting what I'm asked for that captivated my respiratory system. It was the second sentence.
"I chose you."
The God of all creation chose you. If you're as inquisitive as I am, you may have asked, 'why?' or 'what for?' The next line provides that information: to produce lasting fruit.
What Jesus is referring to is the fruit of the Spirit. Paul kindly lists these for us in Galatians.
Let's dissect this for a moment. God chose us. We didn't choose Him. He knows our heart, and He expects us to produce certain fruit -or- live a certain way. This we do so that our prayers will be answered when we ask in Christ's name.
When we produce the kind of fruit God expects, we are going to pray according to His will, and by doing that, we assure that what we pray is given unto to us.
Let's use an example, pretend you're a parent with a child. For some of you, you will not need to pretend so much as a use your own life lol. 🙋♀️
How do we act when our children are obedient as compared to when they are not? Do we give in to their desires when they're melting down into a temper tantrum? How about when they do what they're supposed to without being told? How the child acts makes a difference in how the parent responds.
Christ Jesus expects us to produce fruit. It also happens to be a precursor to receiving our heart's desire according to the will of God. Many of us, just like the Israelites upon leaving Egypt, don't know who we are, what gifts and talents God gave us to glorify Him, what our "purpose" is, or why we're planted where we are. However, I believe we begin to get the answers to those questions when we begin to produce fruit.
Remember friend, it's not about the destination with Jesus, it's about the journey. And Christ loves you so much, He couldn't imagine not sharing in this journey of life with you.
Additional Reading: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
☆ Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB
Prayer: Dear God, you are so good. Thank you for today and for the opportunity to do your will and glorify your Son Jesus Christ. Lord, there is none like you and I am grateful to call you Friend, Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. Thank you, Jesus for choosing me. Thank you for helping me be your hands and feet. Lord, please help me produce fruit and be a light in this world. It is not always easy, Jesus, you know where my struggles lie. Lord, help me to remember to press into you when I feel weak for your Word says when I am weak YOU are strong. Thank you for my joy, Lord, for it too is my strength. I love you Jesus and in your name I pray, Amen.