‘Really, Who Are The Chosen?’

"Many are called, but few are chosen." (Matt 22:14) This verse has created a sense of forboding . . . a sense of despair, unfairly, I might add, in the hearts of many who’ve misunderstood its simple yet revelatory meaning.

Jesus is not making an attempt at disqualifying the self-deprecating but rather He is raising the bar, challenging all humanity to rise to the occasion and discover their innate purpose on Earth . . . their calling!

Who are the chosen? Are they God’s favorites? You wouldn’t be too far from the truth with that interpretation. It appears that the Greek word for ‘chosen’ is ‘eklektos’ which can be interpreted ‘favorite.’ However, I can assure that those who have chosen to discover and pursue and their calling are more than God’s favorites - they truly are the ‘chosen.’ Let me say that again. The chosen are simply those who have chosen to discover and pursue their calling. Your calling is so important. It is your purpose, your destiny, your reason, your fate.

To live a life that counts one need only do what God is counting on you to do. Whatever it is God is counting on you to do, He has prepared no substitute or replacement for you - if you don’t do it, it won’t get done.

Fulfillment is a direct result of living a life that is true to one’s calling. To be fulfilled is to be ‘filled full’ of Him . . . and you can’t be ‘filled full’ until you’ve been emptied of yourself. To empty yourself is to pour yourself into another’s life.

‘Pour’ is spelled ‘p’ plus the word ‘our’. Placing a ‘p’ in front of ‘our’ you now have a word that sounds like ‘POWER’. Here’s a life principle: There is power in the pouring! Discover and pursue your calling then pour your life into it . . . you’ll be amazed at the power you will find to truly succeed in life.

Die Trying

January 4, 2008
Vacation. Cabo San Lucas. ‘Die Trying’. Tingling spider-senses!
No, I haven’t gone completely mad . . . just partially. We were on vacation recently when I saw a sign advertising a local business. The sign immediately gripped me and I knew a creative thought was birthed.
The reason so many people never live up to their potential or destiny is not due to lack of opportunity but primarily to a lack of trying. It appears that one of the most difficult things for people to do is simply to try something new.
Try - it’s a small word - just three letters. Try - to make an effort to do something; to attempt. Fear of the unknown has been the prison guard of the incarcerated who are guilty of having possession of unrealized potential. Why is this? It’s simple.
It’s in the ‘trying’ that you do the ‘dying’ and it’s the ‘dieing’ that keeps us from trying. To try something new is to die to something old.
One of my favorite authors is John Mason and he makes some excellent observations about trying:
"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."
"We all make mistakes-especially those who do things.
"Failure is often the first necessary step toward success. if we don't take the risk of failing, we won't get the chance to succeed.
"To fail is the natural consequence of trying.
"When we are trying, we are winning."
The most difficult thing in the world to drive is the tricycle (try-cycle)
It’s a three-willed vehicle. The will(wheel) in front is the steering will (wheel)! It provides forward motion, speed, traction, and direction.
The two in the back provide stability.
One must know the will (wheel) of God, the will of the devil, the will of man. When the will of God is out front directing your life, you will always grow in the right direction and make proper turns when necessary.
Knowing the wheel of satan is important because your will must be the exact opposite of his - this provides you with a sense of stability.
God doesn’t want you to be righteous - He just wants you to die trying!
God doesn’t want you to be holy - He just wants you to die trying!
God doesn’t want you to be pure - He just wants you to die trying!
This concept is the premise for all victory in your life, for you see, without ‘try’ in the word ‘triumph’ all you have is ‘umph’!
Now get out there and TRY!!