January 9
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you.”
JOHN 15:16
JOHN 15:16
It is not so much our seeking the Truth as the Truth drawing us to Himself. That drawing us to Himself is interpreted by our soul as spiritual hunger. Without this we cannot come to Truth.
Christ has come to seek and to save the Lost. He tells His disciples that they have not chosen Him, but He has chosen them. The ones who seek Him discover that they are sought out by Him. The paradox of the situation is that the Lord will only reveal Himself to those who seek Him, but when they begin to seek Him, He searches for them in order to make Himself known.
Source: “Lord of All” by Chip Brogden
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CHIP BROGDEN is a best-selling author, teacher, and former pastor who shares "real, simple, truth" about a Christ-centered faith that is based on relationship, not religion. Learn more »
How true that is. The problem [for lack pf a better term] comes when you attempt to share any of that with those that feel secure in whatever club it is they belong to. They look at anything like this to be something that only those with some sort of special calling need bother with. You must guard against allowing those folks to drag you back to their level. Thans again for your insight!!
Amen! We’re so lucky if we’re chosen by God to be His follower. Glory to Him! So being a chosen one let’s don’t forget to worship Him in spirit and in truth. That’s the way He wants us to worship Him. Let’s always be thankful that He had chosen us. Praise the Lord!
We are really priveleged to be His children. That H e draws us. Its amazing. I feel soooooo grateful. There is no life outside Him. Thanks Chip and Karla. Have a very blessed 2013.
exactly we are Blessed that we are free in Christ, chosen by him, proceeding along the path totally dependent on Him not sitting at the gate but excited to learn from Christ, about Christ who is our life our very reason for living. Praise His Holy Name. The great I Am.
Yes, He definitely chose (accepted) us and not the other way around. Faith is a gift and not of ourselves lest we boast.
“The paradox of the situation is that the Lord will only reveal Himself to those who seek Him,../.:
I don’t see how there can be a paradox as He doesn’t change and is steadfast and true, will you reconsider that your statement sounds contradictory?
“There is not a man that understands, there is not one that seeks after God.” Romans 3:11
There are plenty of Scriptures that support seeking God. Yes, it sounds contradictory to God choosing us first, that’s why I call it a paradox – a statement that apparently contradicts itself. Thanks for reading, Jennifer!
Thanks for your response, I want to point something important out. “Apparently contradicts itself”. The Father does not have a contradictory nature, humans are the double minded ones. Everything is spiritually discerned. Yes, it talks about seeking Him after being called out but He’s the one causing the seeking to happen the entire time. “But now, O YHWH, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
He causes it to be written in our hearts to seek Him, it’s His work alone.
Yes. Until we discern it spiritually, to our mind all of it is a contradiction. “How can a man be born (again) when he is old?” How can life come out of death? How can strength come out of weakness? How can good come out of evil? God is the Master of spiritual paradox and enigma. There is no real contradiction unless we try to figure it out with the flesh.
What a wonderful truth to know that God has chosen us even before we chose Him – before even “the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). And then in His love extended to us the grace to seek His son Jesus so that we could be found.
Truth……we are sought by truth as we seek for truth, wonderful. When all is shaken by truth, it is only truth that remains. We must therefore continue in truth….continue in Him, who is The Truth. This means on a day to day level that we make choices, take action, protect, follow and uphold all that in our lives pertains to truth. Blessed be His name.
love it, the word you share just blesses me so much
In Matthew 22:14 Jesus taught that many are called but few are chosen. He didn’t say all are called or all are chosen, just many and few. Looking at the parable the many chosen are those who responded to the invitation to come to the wedding. Looking further we can discern that the few chosen are those who came dressed for the occasion. Our dress is our personal righteousness. (Revelation 19:8) Personally I believe whether or not we are chosen depends on our righteousness that is produced by our daily walk with the Lord. Those who refuse to avail themselves to the power of God through Christ that can change their lives are not part of the chosen even though they are part of the called. I personally believe, as the Lord has shown me, that to equate the choosing totally to our coming to the Lord initially is not all that is related to it. Us believers in Christ, have an obligation to walk in Christ’s power daily and allow Him to continually transform us into His likeness. As Chip teaches, there’s more to the walk than going through the gate.