Thank You, Jesus, for Choosing Me

By Jerry Dyke

I have been studying through the book of Matthew recently, and this past week finished chapter nine which ends with these verses, “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of harvest to send out workers into the harvest.’”

Verses like these have always been compelling to me as I taught them in Sunday school or read through them in my personal Bible study, but the significance of this passage has now taken on new meaning in my life as I transition out of a corporate environment into full-time ministry.  The weight of these verses has literally overwhelmed me as I considered the responsibility implied and have wondered whether or not I am really up to the task.

Then, I read the first part of chapter 10 of Matthew and realized that the people Jesus selected as His disciples, the ones with whom He would entrust to implement His plan to usher in His kingdom, were pretty ordinary men.  In fact, throughout the entire Bible, we see that God used ordinary men and women with a lot of character flaws, untrained, unqualified, uncertain, just like me and you to do extraordinary things for His kingdom which gives me hope and the confidence that God is sovereign and will use me for His glory as I surrender to His will.

It’s with this understanding that I reapply, personally, the application of Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Thank you, Jesus, for choosing me.  Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving you.  Thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit to empower me to do your work.  Help me to faithfully follow you wherever you lead me. (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:12-14)