The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: John 15:14-21

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you.”
John 15:16

Chosen of Him

We are the friends of Jesus. No greater honor can come to anyone. We are on terms of intimacy with the Son of the Most High. Birth does not confer this distinction upon us; by nature, we are enemies of God and of His Son. We do not achieve this honor by our own merit or worthiness; what we do can never stand up under His searching gaze.
We are the friends of Jesus because He has chosen us. Grace prompted this choice. We were dead in our sins. But He took pity on us. He called us by the Gospel and enlightened us. He removed our blindness and obstinacy. His blood cleanses us from all sin. Everything needed to make us fit for His holy fellowship – He did.
We try to talk about this love. But human language breaks down when it attempts to describe the love of Jesus for sinners. Our very thoughts, which otherwise roam the universe and daringly approach the deepest mysteries, become confused as we dwell on the love that chose us and made us God’s friends.
But we do believe it. We must believe it. God has said so definitely and conclusively. We are the friends of Jesus. We are chosen of Him. Whether we can understand it or not, whether we can express it or not, the fact remains. The Gospel declares the glorious fact. By God’s grace, we accept what the Gospel says. Friends of Jesus we are, let our conscience, let Satan protest and snicker. We look to Jesus. We know whom we have believed. He has chosen us.

Praise be to Thee, O God, for Thy choice of me, a poor sinner. More and more, help me to value the friendship of Jesus. Amen.

July 18, 1939