Spiritual Message: To Be Called and Chosen

Jesus says in Matthew 22:14; For many are called, but few are chosen. Being Called or

being Chosen are words that has been bantered around the Christian community for centuries

and is found in both the Old and New Testament of the Bible. But what do they really mean and

who Calls you is it the Christ or is it the Father GOD. Who Chooses you is it the Christ or is it,

Father GOD. Well, the truth is dependent on whether you are speaking from the Old Testament

or the New Testament.

In the Old Testament it was GOD The Father who determined who was Chosen are Called. He

had designated the Israelites as the Chosen people, and HE Called certain Israelites to do HIS

special work. HE did this because although the Israelites had a special bond with GOD and they

could hear and speak to HIM, they had stopped listening to HIM. So, first HE Called Moses to

share HIS Word with them and be a spokes person for HIM. After Moses there was others

including Joshua, Samuel, King David and his son Solomon and the Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah

and Elijah who allowed fear of dying to cause GOD to have him pass his Calling to Elisha. This

can be seen in 1King 19:14-16 where it is said that; And he said, I have been very jealous

for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant,

thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with a sword; and I, even I only, am left;

and they seek my life to take it away. And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on the way

to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazel to be king over

Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimishi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the

son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. In the Old

Testament when you are Called by GOD you have no choice but to do what HE Said when HE

Said it and when Elijah hesitated that was disobedience of GOD. Because of his many years of

unwavering service to GOD, he was not punished, but his position was given to Elisha and he

was taken away in a whirlwind. But Jonah, on the other hand, was not as fortunate, when he

disobeyed GOD, after he was Called. In Jonah 1:1-3 It is said that; Now the word of the Lord

came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise go up to Nineveh, that great city, and

cry against it, for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto

Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Most of you know what happened next, but for those

who do not know, he was swallowed by a large fish and kept their until he repented, and GOD

forgave him, and he then did what GOD had told him to do. I know most of you were taught that

fish was a whale, but the Bible says a large fish, we must always teach the Truth.

In the New Testament, there is a noticeable difference. Yes, GOD The Father still Calls you, but

it is Christ that Chooses you. The first time that Chosen is mentioned in the New Testament,

was when GOD introduces Christ to the world by saying in Matthew 12:18; BEHOLD MY

SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL

PLEASED: I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE WILL SHOW JUDGEMENT TO THE

GENTILES. It is very interesting that the next time that Chosen is mentioned is in Matthew

20:16 when Christ states. So the last shall be first and the first last: for many be called but

few chosen. When Christ said that He was really making a defining statement. You may ask

why, was this a defining statement, and my answer would be because He says it again in

Mathew 22:14, my lead off scripture. Christ was letting you know that He would make the

decision of who will be Chosen and then He went about doing it. In John 6:70 Jesus answered

them, have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? In this verse The Christ is

letting you know that He has the power to choose whomever He wants, even a devil. He also

chose His disciple’s that were sent out into the world to teach the Gospel. And all these were

done while He was on earth. He Chose Paul after He had returned to heaven. All those that

were spoken of in the Bible as being Chosen lived exemplary lives, because they were Chosen

by Christ. When you are Chosen you have no choices, of your own, and if you choose to make

a choice without Christ consent and not repent and receive His forgiveness through His Grace,

then like Judas, who betrayed Christ, you will cease to exist. Those of us who are Chosen, live

to do GOD’S bidding without complaint or questions. We are vessels put here to fulfill a specific

task and we do so willingly. When you are Called you have a choice to pursue your Calling or

not. There have been many who have chosen not to pursue their Calling or perverted it for

personal gain just as there are many who have chosen to pursue their Calling, for the Glory of

GOD. To show you the importance of being Called, is that the only way you can be Chosen is

that you must be first Called. Something you should also know is that every position in the Body

of Christ is important and there are none that are more important than the other. Those of us in

the Body of Christ work for His good humbly and devoted to its success. If you choose to be a

working part of the Body of Christ, find your Calling by praying and seeking first the kingdom of

GOD and all things will follow. May GOD be a Blessing to all those who read this and believe.