Thursday, December 10, 2009

I choose you...choose Me.

Matthew 22:1-14. The parable of the wedding feast. It's been on my mind a lot lately. Heavy on my mind and on my heart, if I tell the truth. As I write this I am actually weeping and my soul is burdened. I am faced with this statement: Many are called, but few are chosen. And I am left wondering, am I one of the many, or one of the few? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I just keep hearing the echo in my mind, "few are chosen."


The choice is ours to make. He has already chosen us. He chose us once for all time, but we have to choose Him daily. Some days that choice is difficult, but for the life of me I can't figure out why. What is so difficult about choosing to spend time in the Word? I spend time on facebook. What is so difficult in choosing to spend time in prayer? I spend time texting my friends. What is so difficult about choosing to empty myself at His feet and waiting for Him to fill me up? I will empty myself in this blog, but I will leave it emptier still.


In these short sentences, I think I have found the answer. Fear. Fear of perfection, to be exact. Isn't that what it means to live a godly life? To be called of God? To be found worthy in His sight? To be chosen? Of course not! Do you know what the king did when he was refused, not once, but twice, by those he invited? He sent servants out to round up street folks. But even more amazing than that, and this is where the parable gets really good, he clothed them! He knew that they wouldn't come to the feast dressed respectably, so he provided them with what they needed so that they would be accepted. He didn't expect them to clean themselves up. He did it for them. Well, everyone except for that idiot at the end of the parable who refused....oh wait. I am being that idiot. I am coming to the Kings table with my shame and guilt, thinking my smiling face and clean dress will hide my filthiness. But He's not fooled. He calls us to join Him, but He demands we be clothed in righteousness at His table. His righteousness. His blood. His love. Upon Believing, we are made whole once for all time. But we must KEEP believing this, reminding ourselves that we are "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus."* Not by our own account, but it is a gift.** Remembering is what keeps us at the table. Keeping at the table is what makes us chosen.


Amazing....it always leads back to this one fact....For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.*** Really? It's just that easy? Really.


Lord, forgive me for all the times I so often choose to be an idiot. And thank You for tugging at my heart until I remember You again. I love you, Father.


* Romans 3:22

** Ephesians 2:9

*** John 3:16