THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Lord, your statement prompts me to ask two questions. Why? How?

The evening before your crucifixion, what we call the Last Supper, you revealed this truth to your disciples. This truth? “You didn’t choose me; I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit” (John 15:16). Today, your Spirit reveals this truth to Christ followers.

Why? Why, Lord, would you choose someone like me? Haven’t you noticed my bust displayed in the Flawed Believers Hall of Fame? By my life choices, haven’t I put the “stu” in stupid? Surely you could find someone more qualified, better educated to become your follower.

How? How am I to achieve your mandate to produce “fruit?” You know my personality. How do you expect me to live a lifestyle that produces Christlike character? That will be a miracle.

“I work miracles,” you whispered to my inner man. “Search the Scriptures.”  

Your Spirit directed me to Hebrews 11 to review your “Faith” Hall of Fame. Reading about the “saints” of old, I could only shake my head. “You sure chose some real losers,” I muttered.

Noah may have saved man and animal in the ark, nevertheless, his drunkenness brought him disgrace. Abraham lied about his wife Sarah being his sister. Moses murdered a man, then lived as a fugitive for forty years. And the list of sinners you used went on.

 Lord, did you see “world-changers” in your twelve rag-tag, uneducated, common men that society labeled as “nobodies?” Are everyone you call potential world-changers? Does that include me, too? You see our potential. We see our limits.

Lord, may I allow your Spirit to develop world-changing character traits that influence those in my world to seek you.

Amen, Jesus.