You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give you. John 15:16
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we have been chosen by God to bear good fruit. What kind of fruit is growing in your garden of life? If we are not cultivating and nurturing the fruit of the Spirit we are sowing the wrong seeds. May God help us embrace the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling you have received, for you have been called by God, and on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
“O Jesus, I have promised, to serve Thee to the end; be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend; I shall not fear the battle, if Thou art by my side, nor wander from the pathway, if Thou wilt be my Guide. O, Jesus, Thou hast promised, to all who follow Thee, that where Thou art in glory, there shall Thy servant be; and Jesus, I have promised, to serve Thee to the end; oh, give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.”
“Down in the valley with my Savior I will go, where the flowers are blooming and the sweet waters flow; everywhere He leads me I will follow, follow on, walking in His footsteps till the crown be won. Follow! follow! Follow Jesus!”
“Down in the valley with my Savior I will go, where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow; with His hand to lead me I will never, never fear, danger cannot frighten me if my Lord is near; so yes, I’ll follow, follow, I will follow Jesus. anywhere, everywhere, I will follow on; follow, follow, I will follow Jesus, anywhere he leads me I will follow on! Amen!
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. Nothing could be added to it or taken away from it. He purposefully plans the way in which he predestined for us to walk in. We must never turn away from the path God has chosen for us, because He has a sense of humor. He will allow us to run around in circles only to find ourselves right back where we started. Where God leads, we should follow.
God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:28
For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.”
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17
“And if any man hears my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. But to all who believe him and accept him, they have the right to become children of God.”
Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now and sin no more. John 8:11
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery, and the Law of Moses commanded us to stone such women, so what do you say?” Jesus said to them “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” But when they heard it, they went away one by one. Then Jesus asked the woman, “ Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on, sin no more.”
“When we’ve been here ten thousand years, bright, shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we’d first begun.”
Lord, I do not know how many days or years I have left on this earth, enjoying your bright, shining sun, but one thing I know is that for the rest of my life, I will be singing your praises, because if it was not for your amazing grace, where would I be.
“Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”
You know, I have been tempted and tried, I have passed through storms that should have destroyed me, I have been through the fire; but thank God, thanks be to God, if it was not for grace I would not have made it thus far, and by faith, God’s amazing grace will surely lead me home. Thank you, Lord!