You've Been Chosen!

High school gym was my least favorite class, and I especially hated the days when captains were selected to pick teams. My complete lack of skill made me a liability to any team, so I knew I would be picked near the end. “But please,” I thought, as I sat on that hard, lacquered gym floor, “please don’t let me be picked last.”

Our reading for today from Matthew 4 is about the disciples being “picked” by Jesus. I’m deeply indebted to Dr. Joseph Stowell for a message I heard him give many years ago that has remained with me. According to Dr. Stowell, after Hebrew boys had finished their schooling, the very best of the boys would ask a rabbi if they could follow him and learn from his example. Those who weren’t good enough to follow a rabbi took up a profession, like fishing.

It's no wonder then, that when these fishermen hear Jesus’ call, “Follow Me!” they immediately leave their nets and follow Him. They had thought they were passed over; no rabbi wanted them. Then came Jesus, who gave them a purpose and a ministry, who let them know they were chosen.

And so they followed Him, and from all accounts, they followed Him with great devotion. True, they didn’t really understand who He was until after His resurrection. True, they weren’t always as generous and compassionate (there was that little incident where James and John wanted to call down fire on a town). But these men never stopped following Jesus until the terror of the Garden of Gethsemane. After they meet Jesus risen from the dead, they are re-energized to set the world on fire, choosing to be martyred rather than to renounce the Man who had chosen them so long ago.

What makes me so grateful today is that those of us who know Christ have also been chosen. “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption…” (Ephesians 1:4-5a). Before the world itself was created, the God who made the universe (think nebula, glowing planets, atoms and quarks) chose us to be His dearly loved children. We no longer need to be defined by our looks, our jobs, our marital or financial status... None of that matters because our true identity is "dearly loved children of God." What a blessing to be chosen!

Lenten Reading for Today: Matthew 4:18-22

Searching the internet, I actually found part of the message by Dr. Stowell that I remembered. It's around the 18 minute mark, but you may enjoy listening to the entire sermon as much as I did.

The Nets That Prevent Us From Following Jesus

Photo of the Sea of Galilee from https://pixabay.com/photos/lake-meadow-sea-of-galilee-bank-6185635/