You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name (John 15:16).
Growing up, I was never what you would call “athletic.” Instead of being a jock, I was the kid who always had a list of excuses for why I couldn’t participate in gym class each day:
- “My head hurts.”
- “My doctor said I need to take it easy for a few weeks.”
- “I have an ingrown toenail.”
- And so on…
This is probably why the majority of my memories from gym class consist of me sitting along the wall reading comic books and occasionally getting pegged upside the head with an errant dodgeball.
Needless to say, whenever my excuses failed me and I was forced to participate, I was never the first one picked for either team. More often than not, I was one of the last to be chosen.
Maybe that’s why I find it so incredible that Jesus actually picked me to be a part of His team. It clearly wasn’t because of anything I’ve done to earn the spot, but solely because of His love and His Father’s grace.
I will admit, there are times when I look at my skill-set and conclude that Jesus must have chosen me to be the third-string punter or perhaps the water boy. Sure, He let me onto the team, but the odds of me seeing any playing time are pretty slim.
But that’s not the case at all. Jesus chose me so that I could produce lasting fruit. Or, to put it in today’s terms, to do stuff that makes a difference in His Kingdom. He wants to pass me the ball so I can score.
And this isn’t His special plan for only me either. It’s His plan for every single person who has put their faith in Him.
So the next time you feel like you’re sitting on the sidelines waiting to be put into the game, remember that Jesus specifically chose you to be a player, not just a benchwarmer. Ask Him what play He wants you to run next, and trust Him to give you the ability to run it.
The best part of all this is, even if you fumble the ball a hundred times, Jesus will never cut you from His team.
