May 29 GOD CHOOSES YOU!
CHOSEN!
Once Chosen Always Growing
A Verse to Remember:
….., for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 5:11-14
11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.[c] You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
Gospel Story: Matthew 4:18-22 (the call to follow)
and Matthew 28:16-20 (the call to make disciples )
Reflection:
The disciples we meet in Matthew 4 are the same ones Jesus is talking to in Matthew 28. They are the same people. But they are different too! Having said, “yes” to following Jesus, they have grown, matured. So once chosen by God, we are continually growing. Or a the Bible puts it maturing.
Maybe you can make a list of all the things that Jesus would have shown them that they had never seen or heard of in their lives before. Ponder what it would have been like to follow Jesus. How would that have grown your heart. Or even you as a person. Think on those three years of miracles, the times they were getting kicked out of towns, along with the times for worship and prayer, alone and together. Imagine the sense of excitement they had with Jesus riding into town on the Donkey and how it would have impacted them as Jesus was arrested and then crucified. And now in Matthew 28, the resurrected Jesus is telling them there’s more. More to being chosen!!! And what more is that. To help others to grow in their relationship with Jesus. It’s what Jesus wants for His chosen. It’s what the author of Hebrews wants for those chosen to know Jesus. How do we get there?
So how do keep on growing once we’ve been chosen by God? How do we get to that place where we can help others learn to know and follow Jesus too? We follow Jesus. It’s the way God trains us. And for most of us we begin by following folks who have walked with Jesus longer than we have. But follow Jesus and know you can’t help but grow and mature! And that’s exactly what God wants for you and for me, His Chosen!