“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
-Matthew 22: 14
Who are called?
Does all called recruited?
Does all recruited prove to become chosen?
Does all chosen fulfil God’s will?
Who are called?
Matthew 22 : 9, 10
Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’
So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
It’s astounding! Many are called, both good and bad! Not only the good but also the bad!!
Who are recruited?
Is it by following commandments or
Is it by sincerely performing duties?
No, recruitment is not based on one’s own qualification but by the Lord’s calling and willingness to follow Him leaving the world’s!
Keeping the commandments from youth isn’t by itself the eligibility for recruitment.
And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” -Luke 18: 21
So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” -Luke 18: 22
But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. -Luke 18: 23
Performing sincerely our physical duties don’t give any guarantee for our recruitment.
Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” -Matthew 8: 21
But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” -Matthew 8: 22
Good or bad doesn’t matter initially. But a heart to leave the world(’s) to follow Jesus is important for recruitment. When Jesus called His disciples, they weren’t actually good but willingly left the world (’s)!
Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” -Mark 1: 17
They immediately left their nets and followed Him. -Mark 1: 18
Leaving the holds of all that is world (‘s), for the sake of following Jesus, You are recruited!
(NB: Many Christians of today are deceived of their values and think that they are recruited. But it’s not so, they actually are not. Also all those who are bad but recruited cannot continue to be bad)
Now the question is whether all those who leave the world (‘s) to follow Jesus become chosen? Whether all those who are chosen fulfil the will of God?
Again it’s shocking, not all those who are recruited become chosen! Not all those who are chosen fulfil the will of God!
Abraham was called out to leave the word. Recruitment happened there. But he became chosen as and only he proved himself in the testing of sacrificing Issac. Still, testing never ended there but continued, in sending Ishmael out, in rightfully handing over all the inheritance to God chosen Issac…. Abraham’s obedience and faithfulness were tested at every point that he fulfilled God’s will.
All those who don’t yield to the testing, fail to become chosen.
All those who don’t yield to continuous testing fail in fulfilling the will of God.
Abraham, father of faith was tested for life time, children of Abraham too will be tested.
Paul who even climbed to third heaven never gave up in testing and never stopped pressing forward.
Philippians 3: 12-14
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Many are called – Few are chosen!
Many are tested and only few are proved!
Even among proved – some fail to press forward and fail to fulfil God’s calling!
Jesus recruited many but 12 are chosen, 11 progressed, one failed terribly!
Let’s be aware
We are recruited for the army. It isn’t over here. We will be tested throughout. All those who look back or oscillate or don’t progress fail in God’s will.
We are called to be Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracle doers, Healers, Administrators.
Let’s not rely on our qualification for recruitment but be vigilant in following Jesus leaving the worlds. Let’s not harden our hearts in the time of testing. Let’s not count ourselves apprehended but press forward till life time!Amen.
Sol.Dr.sujatha