Pressing In And Moving On

Years ago when I had first begun my relationship with Jesus I use to hear a phrase from my Grandfather often. That phrase would go something like this ” Patrick, many are called but few are chosen! You Patrick, are a chosen one.” If I were completely honest with you, the statement made me uncomfortable. It had the feel of something you might hear with the Mormons or the Jehovah’s Witness’s. I always felt how could I be better than another or why would I differ from another who also Loved Jesus Christ? I came to understand that this passage from the Bible didn’t really mean what my Grandfather thought it meant. Before I go any further, I need to say that I have the utmost respect for my Grandfather and his over 50 years of scandal free ministry and marriage. My grandfather thought that it separated some beleivers as closer to God and others farther away. I believe that this text actually says that ” The call has gone out to everyone but few have chosen the call”. So the truth of the matter is we are all chosen, but few choose the call.

I say all this to say that the call to be whole hearted has been given to everyone but few choose this call. Many say of people who live whole heartedly for God they are special, or thats just how they are, or God loves them more than me. To get to the crux of the matter, living wholehearted for God is the only way that we as Christ Followers are called to live. The Sermon On The Mount which is mostly clear communicated from in Matthew Chapter 5,6 and 7 gives us what Jesus considers Christ Following 101. This is the foundation to which those who call Jesus Lord are called to walk out in the day to day. So truthfully the argument is taking away in Jesus’ conversation of what a Christ Follower should look like. This isn’t what one ministry says a Christ Follower should look like, or this is what this book says, but this is what the Bible says we should look like. God doesn’t even consider Matthew 5,6 and 7 to be radical Christ Following. He would say “this is only the entrance into your relationship with Me”.

This idea struck my heart the other day while I was praying and driving to a nearby city. I challenge you to chose the call of living wholeheartedly for Jesus. God doesn’t demand perfection or total attainment in our lives on earth, only that we strive to walk out a relationship with Him that gives Him what He is worth. There will be a bride that will emerge from the wilderness of earth that will stun the Nations because of the love which she possess for this God Man. We want a love that consumes our lives in the Glory of Himself and Him alone.