Day 1 — Chosen to Bear Fruit

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.”

— John 15:16 (BSB)

Have you ever stood in a line while two captains picked teams? One by one, names get called. And you wait, hoping, Please pick me. Please don’t let me be last. It’s a great feeling to be chosen, and a terrible feeling to be left standing.

The night before He died, Jesus told His disciples something amazing: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.”

The disciples might have thought they were the ones who decided to follow Jesus. And they did decide! But Jesus wanted them to know that He had chosen them first. Before they ever took a step toward Him, He had already picked them.

If you belong to Jesus, the same is true for you. You’re not on His team by accident. You’re not the last one picked because nobody else was left. Jesus chose you on purpose, because He wanted you.

And Jesus didn’t just choose them to sit on the bench. He said, “I appointed you to go and bear fruit.” To appoint someone means to give them a job. Jesus chose His disciples for a purpose.

What kind of fruit? We’ve talked about fruit all through Rooted. There’s the fruit of the Spirit growing in your character: love, joy, peace, patience and the rest. There’s the fruit of good deeds that help others. And there’s the fruit of people coming to know Jesus because of you.

Then Jesus said something special about this fruit. It’s “fruit that will remain.” Lots of things don’t last. Trophies get dusty. Toys break. Video game scores are forgotten. But fruit that God grows through you lasts forever. When you help someone know Jesus, or show them His love, that matters for all eternity.

Over the next 30 days, we’ll look at the fruit God wants to grow through your life. But it starts right here: you were chosen by Jesus, on purpose, for a purpose.

Think about it: How does it feel to know that Jesus chose you, and not the other way around?

Try this: Write “Chosen on purpose, for a purpose” somewhere you’ll see it every day this month.

Dear Jesus, thank You for choosing me. Thank You that I’m not on Your team by accident. You picked me because You wanted me. Help me bear fruit for You, fruit that will last forever. In Your name, Amen.