MARK 3:13-15 – And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
THEME OF THE DAY. CHOSEN BY HIM FOR HIM. Today’s scripture is the account of Jesus choosing His twelve disciples. Notice the process in their selection. Jesus went up on the mountain. He called the disciples whom He wanted. They responded. This is a specific event in history so we must not try to make it say something it doesn’t. That is easy to avoid in this case, but not others. Make sure when we read the Bible and come to a truth in a text, always read before and after the verse or verses stating that truth. We must establish context. If we read a verse and rip it out of context, then we miss the meaning. And this is easy to do. Make sure we compare scripture with scripture to get the true meaning. Here is one example – baptism. In the book of Acts 22, we read the second account of the Apostle Paul’s conversion testimony. The others are in Acts 9 and 26. He is talking to a crowd and in the middle of his sharing he brings up Ananias. He was the man God used to care for Paul immediately following his conversion. Paul tells the crowd what Ananias had spoken to him. Here is a portion, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). If we read it without context or failing to compare scripture with scripture, we must conclude that baptism washes away sins. We know that isn’t true because of the testimony of other scriptures. Many cults are formed by isolating scripture and not taking the whole of the Bible to clarify and define essential doctrinal truths. But that is not the theme of the day.
Though today’s scripture is a literal historical event, the principle of Lord’s initiation in choosing His disciples applies beyond it. It applies in our salvation. Friends, salvation is not a sinner deciding to become a Christian. It is not a person saying, “I think I will take up Christianity.” Salvation is also not “asking Jesus to come into your heart.” We will find that nowhere in the Bible. One more thing we may say salvation is not; making a decision for Christ which is equivalent to asking Jesus into our hearts. Yes, I know that there are passages of scripture about choosing to follow the Lord and opening the door of our hearts to let Christ enter. The familiar ones are found in the Old Testament book of Joshua – And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15) and in the New Testament book of the Revelation – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20). The problem lies when we make those verses say something they don’t mean. Both are not invitations to sinners. Both are instructions, even commands, to those already God’s people. They are not about salvation. When it comes to salvation, it is all of grace from start to finish. God chooses a people, grants them faith, repentance, and new life in Christ. We simply respond to His call. That is how God is glorified the most in salvation. It is all of Him. Remember, what Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). We are grace gifts to the Son, and what God gives, He doesn’t take back or rely upon the gift to do something. Believe on Christ? Yes, we are responsible and He enables us to respond. And we will. Anyone the Father gives to the Son will come, and the giving comes before our coming. Rest in this great assurance that He chooses us, we don’t choose Him. That is what makes salvation secure and glorious!
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for giving me as a ‘grace gift’ to Your Son. May I walk worthy of such a calling.”
QUOTE: “Salvation is not a decision for Christ. It is a surrender to Christ by repentance and belief”