Monday, September 3, 2017
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
HE CHOSE YOU
"Jesus came and spoke to them." There is great encouragement and strength for us in those few simple words. It was Jesus who came to them! It was Jesus who sought them out! It was Jesus who came and spoke this assignment to them. And the same is true for every disciple of Jesus. This blessed task of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus is not a task of our choosing. We don't need to worry about whether or not this is something we should or should not be doing. The task was chosen for us and we were chosen for the task. Consider how this account echoes the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples recorded in the Gospel of John: "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain..." (John 15:16a).
So all of this begs the question; how could Jesus choose a sinner like me to be His ambassador? The answer is found in the truths of Scripture made simple to understand through such passages as: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8–10).
It was by God's underserved love that we received the very faith through which we are saved. And now, having been redeemed, restored, forgiven, and declared righteous, we are prepared to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of the darkness of unbelief. There is great strength and encouragement in these truths. When you feel like shrinking away from an opportunity to share the Gospel, remember that Jesus chose you for the task and prepared you by giving you a new heart that loves Him, His word, and others.
