The Chosen Ones
Jesus personally called the men He wanted to be His disciples. These men were Peter, James, John, Andrew, and Philip. They also included Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, and James the Son of Alphaeus. Additionally, there were Thaddeus, Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot. We know that Jesus walked this earth as a man, but He was The Great I Am. So, He knew all there was to know about these men, and He wanted to be His disciples.
Known but Chosen
Judas was a thief who would sell his soul for thirty pieces of silver. Thomas doubted that Jesus could rise from the dead. James and John were called the Sons of Thunder, probably because they had violent tempers. Peter, well, we all know that Peter denied he even knew Jesus.
When Jesus called these men, He knew about their past. He knew about their current actions, and He knew what they would do in the future. Yet He called them anyway because these were the ones He Himself wanted.
Chosen Anyhow
The disciples were all chosen by Jesus in spite of their sins and failures. The Bible teaches that there is a way that seems right to men. However, the ways of men always end with death. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When Jesus called the disciples, they all repented and followed Him for eternal life. All except for Judas, who chose the way that seemed right to men and lost his soul.
We Are Chosen
There is good news for you and I. Jesus is still the Great I Am. He knows about your past, your future, and what you are doing now. And yet He still chose you. Jesus has called out to us because we are the ones that He Himself wants. You and I are chosen in spite of our sins and failures.
He does not call us because we are good or holy. He doesn’t call us because we are righteous and just. He calls us because we are sinners in need of a Savior, and He is that Savior. So now you have a choice to make. Will you choose the way that seems right to men, or will you choose to follow Him?
“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.
Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:12-17 CSB
https://bible.com/bible/1713/col.3.12-17.CSB
Douglas & Deborah Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
Email- douglas@pavementendsministry.com
