From Passover to PentecostSample

Chosen to Follow

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” —John 15:16

Though I may at times become frustrated or hurt by those who boldly walk in self-righteousness, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, or unbelief, the truth is that without God’s sovereign grace upon my life, my heart and actions would be no different from theirs. The Lord tells us that apart from Him our works are but filthy rags (Isa. 64:6) and that faith itself is a gift (Eph. 2:8–9).

In truth, we have faith in the Lord simply because He chose to impart His Spirit of revelation to us. I did not choose my parents or the circumstances that I grew up under. God chose these for me, and He has lovingly intervened throughout my life to reveal Himself to me. He does the same for each of us.

In His love for us, God sovereignly chose us for Himself, even as He chose the Jewish people as a nation for Himself (Deut. 7:6; John 15:16). But He also calls us to release our fleshly will to embrace His will. He calls us to respond to His love by letting go of our worldly affections, abandoning our old ways to find ourselves in Him. He calls us to come into divine alignment with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Father’s Spirit woos and whispers to us to follow Him wherever He leads.

During a time when my husband was crying out in emotional pain to the Lord, the Holy Spirit said to him, “If you would cooperate, it wouldn’t hurt so much.” Father has gifted us with the revelation of Himself, yet we must strive to stick close to Him, just as children cling to their parents for safety and to keep from getting lost. Today, endeavor to enter through Jesus’ narrow gate (Matt. 7:13–14) by letting go of old impulses and desires and choosing to cherish and follow your beloved Savior. As you do, the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11) and joy will fill your life!