Jesus chose and appointed me to go and produce lasting fruit

| Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

When I was a high school student, I doubted God’s call upon my life and if I was really supposed to go into ministry. I was asking questions if it was really God. How can God use me? Was this the journey that God wanted me to take?

One night I was reading my Bible before I went to bed. I read this verse, which has become my life verse, that I have held on to over all these years of the journey of following Jesus!

John 15:16 – “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.”

This is something that we need to realize:

• I did not choose Jesus! I did not initiate the relationship with the Lord. I did not go looking for Him, He came looking for me, a sinner. “No man comes to the Father unless the Spirit draws him.
• Jesus chose me! Think about that for a moment! When I doubted, I was fearful when I did not see the entire journey. Jesus saw me, knows me, and chose me! I remember in high school when I was not chosen for the team, that I was not good enough, that I was not popular enough, and when I did not have enough talent. None of that matters because Jesus chose me!
• Jesus appointed me, ordained me! That He not only calls me, but he also has appointed me, ordained me, and set me apart with a plan for my life! If I trust and obey Jesus, He will do things in me and through me that are impossible in our own strength. I must remember: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• Jesus wants me to go and produce fruit! I am unable to produce fruit in my own strength, but the Holy Spirit in my life can minister to others, reach others, bless others, and see others fulfill the purpose of God in their lives.

As I sit back over all these years, I am so thankful that I have taken this journey to follow Jesus. It is a wonderful life when you follow Jesus!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the Lead Senior Pastor of the International Christian Church (ICC) at State‎n Island, New York, since 2011. He draws many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and significant emotional life experiences.

His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is getting rave reviews. His daily devotional appears in this publication.