"My Lord, I Did Not Choose You"

In the 13th chapter of this Gospel (vs 34-35) Jesus said,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus didn’t list things for us to do. We’re the ones who fall into the trap of that kind of thinking. What Jesus did call for was complete and sacrificial love with His repetition of the words ‘as I have loved you’. We can’t escape it. He won’t let us escape it.

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you.” Again, what does He command? Agape. Sacrifice. Love that is Spiritual and comes from above.

So without attempting to give some sort of palpable description of what that looks like, let me get back to the main point.

WHEN THE CHURCH DOESN’T BELIEVE THE CHURCH DOESN’T LOVE

What was it about the early Christians that is different than we usually are?

Why were people saying that they were turning the world upside down? How did they stick together and gladly sacrifice for one another, and how did they have the strength and courage to sing while the flames licked up around their feet and the lions circled them getting ready to pounce?

What is it about the great Christians of history, the ones we read about because of their selfless devotion to God right up to death’s threshold?

I believe Jesus gave the answer right here in our text, in the context of His commandment to love as He has loved and to go forth and bear much fruit.

They understood that one day they woke up and began about their business as usual, giving no thought for God or eternity and ended that day having been adopted as sons by His grace and to the praise of His glory.

They understood that they did not seek Him but that He knew them. They knew that they did not choose God but that He chose them and appointed them for eternal life and gave them a mission to bear fruit for His glory.

When people understand and believe that, people who have the Spirit of Christ in them testifying to their heart of hearts that they are saved by God’s grace alone – when they truly believe that, the issue of the heart is indomitable gratitude; not license, not a sense of entitlement, as we openly criticize in athletes and celebrities but fail to recognize in ourselves, but the deep and settled conviction and profound relief that while many are passed over God has chosen them and because of His choice alone they are secure forever.

I’m glad I didn’t choose Jesus. I am a fickle human with a weak and shaky foundation, and I may have later changed my mind.

I’m glad He chose me; because He is from eternity to eternity and His counsel stands forever and the plans of His heart from generation to generation (Ps 33:11).

I’m glad I was not presented with a list of facts and given the freedom to make the choice, because I would have chosen wrongly and to my own destruction.

For there is none who understands. There is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless.