I had no intention of writing today but during my own bible time this morning this came up in my spirit and I had to share. Sitting at my kitchen table I became so filled that I couldn’t hold it in today, so here goes.
I am studying in John and as I read chapter 15 and verse 16 I had to stop and go back and read it again. I have read this verse many times but there were 2 words that jumped out at me this morning that I had never really noticed before.
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose and appointed you that you should go bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
The first word was chose. It says I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. The definition of chose is to pick or select someone or something as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives. Whatever your purpose or calling is the objective of that is to bear fruit for God. Sometimes we down play our purpose or calling because it doesn’t look like someone else’s. We think our purpose is not as important because we view it that way. When you stop and think that God selected you out of every Christian on this earth for your purpose and way of bearing fruit. Just that thought took my breath a way for a moment. Honestly, I had to stop right there and ask God to forgive me. I am so guilty of thinking my purpose or calling is not as important as someone else’s. I have down played my purpose or let the opinions of others make me think my purpose was not as important. Then this morning to read this and think that God almighty chose me to do what I am doing. It may be small to others but He chose me to do what I am doing.
The second word that jumped out at my was appointed. The word appointed means predetermined or arranged; set. Wow! not only did He chose me but it was predetermined and arranged for me to bear fruit by my purpose or calling. This made me think of the scripture in Jeremiah chapter 1 and verse 5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you: I ordained you a prophet to the nations. NKJV. The NIV version says I appointed you a prophet to the nations. God was speaking to Jeremiah here about his purpose and calling. Jeremiah, just like us, was making excuses in the beginning saying I am young no one is going to listen to me and I don’t know what to say.
Think about it our purpose and calling was predetermined or set in the womb and we want to down play our purpose? The Creator and the Great I am thought your purpose was important enough to create a human being, you, to get it done. So who are we to think our purpose is not important to God when he created you and I to do that very thing to glorify the kingdom of God. Sometimes we say we can’t find our purpose because we think it has to be preaching, teaching, or missionary work and if it doesn’t fall into one of these categories then we put our blinders on and miss our purpose.
Your purpose may be to just love others and be kind. Your purpose may be to serve by helping those in need. Don’t limit yourself. Your purpose can be anything that let’s others see God in you and that gives you the opportunity to tell others about Jesus Christ.
Start feeding your purpose with the Word daily. Pray over your purpose and what God is leading you to do. Take that step in faith that you are terrified to take if God is telling you to do it. As Christians we have to stop holding back out of fear and doubt. We are mighty warriors of Christ and His Word says no one can’t stop Him or defeat Him. His Word says no one can pluck us out of His hand. We serve a powerful God that deserves more than we could ever give Him and yet all He wants is all of you. He just wants the very thing He created, you and I, to love and serve Him fearlessly. He wants us to know our power and strength not by our hands but by His.
Thank you for reading and please share!!
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