January 30, 2014: Chosen!

Matthew 20:1-16

Amplified Bible (AMP)

20 For the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning along with the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And going out about the third hour (nine o’clock), he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;

4 And he said to them, You go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will pay you. And they went.

5 He went out again about the sixth hour (noon), and the ninth hour (three o’clock) he did the same.

6 And about the eleventh hour (five o’clock) he went out and found still others standing around, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?

7 They answered him, Because nobody has hired us. He told them, You go out into the vineyard also and you will get whatever is just and fair.

8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first.

9 And those who had been hired at the eleventh hour (five o’clock) came and received a denarius each.

10 Now when the first came, they supposed they would get more, but each of them also received a denarius.

11 And when they received it, they grumbled at the owner of the estate,

12 Saying, These [men] who came last worked no more than an hour, and yet you have made them rank with us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.

13 But he answered one of them, Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this man hired last the same as I give to you.

15 Am I not permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? [Or do you begrudge my being generous?] Is your eye evil because I am good?

16 So those who [now] are last will be first [then], and those who [now] are first will be last [then]. For many are called, but few chosen.

God's math is completely different than our math. God's definition of what is fair is completely different than our definition of what is fair. The last will be first and the first will be last? Whaaa???? Makes no sense at all unless one is filled with the Holy Ghost. Then our spiritual eyes are opened to God's math and God's "fair".

Many are called, but few are chosen. Hmmmm... I can see it now. There's God sitting on the judges panel dressed as Simon Cowell, with an angel on each side, waiting for our performance. We run out on stage, sing our hearts out and either we get a yes or a unanimous thumbs down!

Is this what chosen is all about? What does God's word say?

Matthew 11:5

Amplified Bible (AMP)

5 The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed (by healing) and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news (the Gospel) preached to them.

These people were definitely chosen.

Mark 4:9

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9 And He said, He who has ears to hear, let him be hearing [and let him consider, and comprehend].

Luke 8:8

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8 And some seed fell into good soil, and grew up and yielded a crop a hundred times [as great]. As He said these things, He called out, He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him considerand understand by hearing!

Luke 14:35

Amplified Bible (AMP)

35 It is fit neither for the land nor for the manure heap; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him listen and consider and comprehend by hearing!

Are we listening? And really hearing?

John 6:44

Amplified Bible (AMP)

44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

It's GOD who places desire in our hearts for Himself.

Ephesians 1:4-6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.

5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—

6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

God, the God who created the universe, chose ME!!! And YOU!!!

John 6:37-39

Amplified Bible (AMP)

37 All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me.

39 And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give new life and raise [them all] up at the last day.

If we come to Him, He will NEVER cast us out!

John 6:44-45

Amplified Bible (AMP)

44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

45 It is written in [the book of] the Prophets, And they shall all be taught of God [have Him in person for their Teacher]. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me—

We actually CAN'T come to Him unless He draws us. And then God, Himself, will be our teacher! He's the best Teacher of all...

Romans 8:28-30

Amplified Bible (AMP)

28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.

30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].

Don't tell me you're not good enough. Or you've failed too many times. Verse 30 says it all. Simply pray this scripture over and over. He CALLED you. He CHOSE you! He will make you righteous. He will make you and I people of honor and dignity. Wow.

Philippians 1:6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Full restoration and, better than that... Full completion. He will finish the work He began! 

Philippians 2:12-13

Amplified Bible (AMP)

12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

All we have to do is work out our own salvation with fear and trembling! Sounds hard? It IS hard! But oh, so rewarding! So worth it!

"Dear Jesus, studying Your word is an exciting journey! It just goes on and on and on. And working on myself is hard, hard, hard work. But I am seeing changes in me. And I'm grateful. You took a selfish person who was stuck in a never ending pity party and turned me around! I have a looooong way to go to be like You. But at least I'm pointed in the right direction! Praise Your mighty name, Jesus! AMEN and Hallelujah!"