YOU ARE CHOSEN FOR A PURPOSE

Văn John Dương June 13, 2024

The weight of choice. It hangs heavy, a constant companion in a world overflowing with options. We choose careers, relationships, paths – each decision a gamble, a whispered prayer for a life well-lived. But John 15:16 shatters the illusion of our control, offering a truth both humbling and strangely freeing. "You did not choose me," it declares, a voice that cuts through the cacophony of self-doubt.

Relief washes over me, a wave that dislodges the burden of responsibility. We spend our lives searching for meaning, for a purpose that validates our existence. But here, the verse reveals a stunning truth: we were chosen. Not for accomplishments, not for pedigree, but for the simple fact of being.

"But I chose you," it continues, and a warmth spreads through me. To be chosen, to be seen amidst the vastness of existence, ignites a spark of worth in the darkest corners of my soul. It's not a random selection, but a deliberate act of love, a testament to a purpose woven into the very fabric of our being.

"And appointed you," the verse presses on. The emptiness within seems to shrink. We are not merely chosen, we are entrusted with a mission. A purpose unfolds, not a burden, but a gift. The world feels less like a vast, indifferent space and more like a canvas waiting for our brushstrokes.

"So that you might go and bear fruit," it whispers. A sense of anticipation builds. This chosen-ness, this appointment, is not an end, but a beginning. We are meant to create, to leave a mark on the world, to make a difference, however small. The fear of insignificance fades, replaced by a quiet determination to bloom where we're planted.

"Fruit that will last," it promises. The anxieties about fleeting achievements and the hollowness of material success dissipate. We are called to create something that endures, something that touches the lives of others beyond the ephemeral. The focus shifts from the now to a legacy, to leaving the world a little better than we found it.

"And so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." The verse concludes with an echo of love. The path ahead may be uncertain, but we are not alone. Every step, every struggle, is accompanied by the promise of support, of divine guidance. It's a reminder that our journey is not about self-sufficiency, but about walking hand in hand with the one who chose us.

John 15:16 doesn't erase the challenges of life. But it reframes them. We are not adrift in a sea of choices, but chosen for a purpose, equipped with the tools to bear fruit that lasts. It's a truth that empowers, that whispers of a love that transcends our limitations, a love that sets us free to bloom in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.