You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.1
Isn’t it comforting to know that Jesus himself chose you? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith . . .2 And likewise, appointed for a purpose—to go bear fruit that abides (meaning to maintain an active, ongoing, dependence with Jesus). We aren’t called to start then quit when the testing comes and it will surely come.3
Yet reality bites—like the seed that was sown on various surfaces;4 E.g., seed that fell on the rock, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away;5 seed that fell among thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.6 How do we prevent seed from being wasted or not maturing?
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . .7 Pointedly, God directs this warning to his people! The apostle John spoke of the importance of Scripture—about 13x he said, it is written.8 Yes, there are secret things that belong to God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of the law.9 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. . . .10
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.11 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.12
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.13 AMEN!
Notes:
1. John 15:16
2. 1 Peter 1:3-5
3. 1 Peter 1:6-7
4. Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8
5. Luke 8:13
6. Luke 8:14
7. Hosea 4:6
8. 1 John 1-2, 5
9. Deuteronomy 29:29
10. John 15:3-11
11. Colossians 2:6-7
12. Colossians 3:16-17
13. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
