astor, or Jesus' own mouth. You might be taken aback, surprised or even offended. In the verses following our Old Testament Reading from Sunday, the Prophet Joshua said these very words to the people after they proclaimed that they would choose God and follow him (Joshua 24:19). He was cautioning the people to say their proclamation carefully and acknowledging that they would likely fail, with the risk of again using God's mercy. The Hebrew Bible is indeed full of failures. Life's greatest teacher is on full display through all the key story arcs. Honestly, the biggest inspiration of the Bible is that God keeps on abiding with us.
Still, we might expect a prophet to be cautionary and negative, but we don't expect our hopeful and life-giving Savior to say such things. Take heart, though, these words are not a direct discouragement. They speak the truth. Jesus is clarifying order and ability. We are not able to choose Jesus. We are not capable of making the choice to be a follower of Jesus. We can only go along with God's choice of us. Our support and submission to that path is what the Lord requires of us.
Today's reading: John 15:16-25 ESV
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
Today's reading: John 15:16-25 ESV
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
Yes, we see in the wisdom of Jesus' words that those who oppose God spread hatred towards anything that is good and of God. No, we can't choose God. We can't choose to be perfect. We are not able to always make good choices and do what is right. God is able and God chooses us. Let the goodness of God shine through us by letting God's choices happen and flow. The Holy Spirit turns us from negative options, paths and possibilities. This is how we seek the Reign of God in the here and now!
Great God of all peoples,
We come before you today as a grateful people. We praise your greatness and lift high the honor of your Name. You have set us free to worship you. Your presence with us, O God, is undeserved yet completely welcome and needed! Let our hearts rest in you this day. Soothe us with all that you are for us in our lives. Guide us to live out your choosing, that we would do your work and your will in our area. Bless us to keep strong when hatred seems strong. Let us see that difficulties and challenges can be the mark of following the Crucified and Risen Prince of Peace. Be will all those that we lift before you now... We pray for all those who might feel terribly discouraged today...In your powerful Name, we pray. Amen.
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