Wednesday, February 13, 2019: John 15:16

Wednesday, February 13, 2019: John 15:16

“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.”

Think about the things you’ve been chosen to do. If you ever had to try out for an athletic team, band, choir, or a part in a play before you could participate, you were chosen. Unless you’re self-employed, you were chosen for the jobs you’ve had. Think also about the reason you were chosen. There was purpose and expectation that came from the person who chose you. Not only that, but he or she was also making some level of commitment to you so that you would succeed. You may have even been told, “Tell me what you need.”

Jesus has chosen you to go and bear fruit that will abide. Like a high school band teacher or the manager of a company, He wants you to succeed in that purpose because it reflects on Him. However, God didn’t choose you because of what you can do for Him; He chose you because He loves you. Because He loves you, He has purpose and expectation for you to join Him in the work He is doing. When you step into that role of bearing fruit for Him, He’s committed to equip and empower you to do it.

You can be certain that God already knows what you need in order to do what He has called you to do. His Spirit equips and empowers you for success in carrying out His purposes in the world. The beauty is in the relationship He invites you into as He does that. Rather than showing you everything you need to know all at once, God leads you to discover His wisdom and power along the way. He doesn’t put you on the job, then expect you to figure it out as you go. Instead, as you learn to center your life around His purposes, He says, “Tell me what you need.”

  • What area of life do you struggle to center around God and His purposes? How does John 15:16 speak to you about that?
  • Pray: Spend some time identifying some of the “fruit” you know God is calling you to bear for Him. Tell God what you think you need to do.