John 15:16-17
John 15:16-17 tells us that we didn’t choose Jesus but that He chose us so that we would go and bear fruit and that our fruit would abide so that whatever we asked, the Father would give to us. When I read through just these verses, I am not gonna lie, I had a hard time at first understanding how the verses even related to us being homeless without Jesus. As I studied them more and prayed about it, it all started to come together.
I remember back in the day in gym class when it was time to pick teams for whatever sport we were playing and the anxiousness I would feel about whether I would be picked or how soon I would be picked, it didn’t feel good. When I wouldn’t get picked until last it would cause me to feel bad about myself, like I wasn’t good enough or cool enough. I am sure at some point in your own life you may have felt something similar. Thankfully when it comes to Jesus, we don’t have to worry about being picked at all, He picks us first.
Jesus is showing us, by Him choosing us, He is giving us a spiritual home. Away from Him we are spiritually homeless. When we were created, we were created with a purpose and that purpose is grounded in Christ, He is our home. When we choose Christ, we are accepting the invitation to be adopted as His sons or daughters. Without Christ our purpose is unclear, and we end up wandering around with no home to keep us grounded. Without Him, we feel like we don’t belong or feel like I did back in gym class. That is no way to live.
Choosing to abide in Him, to follow His way, and to live in His will is how we bear fruit and can show others they don’t have to be homeless anymore either. I know that I am SO thankful that I have a home in Christ and that I get to share the joy of having a home in Christ with my kids, my family and friends, or anyone else that needs to hear that they don’t have to continue being homeless without a purpose.
I remember back in the day in gym class when it was time to pick teams for whatever sport we were playing and the anxiousness I would feel about whether I would be picked or how soon I would be picked, it didn’t feel good. When I wouldn’t get picked until last it would cause me to feel bad about myself, like I wasn’t good enough or cool enough. I am sure at some point in your own life you may have felt something similar. Thankfully when it comes to Jesus, we don’t have to worry about being picked at all, He picks us first.
Jesus is showing us, by Him choosing us, He is giving us a spiritual home. Away from Him we are spiritually homeless. When we were created, we were created with a purpose and that purpose is grounded in Christ, He is our home. When we choose Christ, we are accepting the invitation to be adopted as His sons or daughters. Without Christ our purpose is unclear, and we end up wandering around with no home to keep us grounded. Without Him, we feel like we don’t belong or feel like I did back in gym class. That is no way to live.
Choosing to abide in Him, to follow His way, and to live in His will is how we bear fruit and can show others they don’t have to be homeless anymore either. I know that I am SO thankful that I have a home in Christ and that I get to share the joy of having a home in Christ with my kids, my family and friends, or anyone else that needs to hear that they don’t have to continue being homeless without a purpose.
Posted in Devotional