“Many are Called…”
December 31, 2024
Traditionally, at this time of year, at the outset of the new, people are supposed to make promises to themselves about how differently they will do things in the coming year. Perhaps we make promises of changed behavior or attitude, because we have come to realize there is a need.
However, only around 50% of people see that need, and of those, “Recent research has shown that just 9% of Americans actually keep their resolutions throughout the year. (So, only 4.5% of all of us who commit to make changes in our habits.)
A lot of online sites dig deeper to answer why we bother, but I want to talk to you, shifting the sails, so to speak, and going on a different tack… speaking from my understanding of God, Jesus, and the Bible, of course!
In Jesus’ Parable of the Banquet, translations you may have read conclude with, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Translators understood this word slightly differently than we might. More recent translations use the more easily understood wording that many are invited to the banquet.
Now the following word, “chosen” is meant in this way: “The term “eklektos” is used in the New Testament to denote those who are chosen or selected by God for a specific purpose or destiny.”
This morning I was thinking about this in the context of the disciples James and John asking Jesus for official positions: “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” To which Jesus replied: “…but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
James and John had certainly been invited, but they had not been particularly chosen!
Anyways, that’s where this essay began at 3 o’clock this morning…
Now, generally speaking, people who have accepted the invitation and have been born anew by the Spirit of God have therefrom been given a seat at the table — a new nature — a new resource to accomplish the needed resolutions which conform us to God’s nature, having such character as these: “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Those qualities of the new nature from God are changes from what harmful characteristics exist in our natural human nature for which we make New Year’s Resolutions in order to escape them: “The acts of {human nature} are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and {drug abuse}; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” {my edits for clarity}
Notwithstanding all that, there is God who has made all resolutions possible if only we choose to resolve to do them with a personal encounter with Jesus. Listen to this: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
This is good news. Each and every one of us now has the ability to choose this new life in Jesus by responding to God’s invitation — where the resolutions are contained right at that Banquet Table, Then all that remains to be done is to cultivate the new nature God graciously is giving to all of us who decided to resolve to RSVP.
Here’s one person who chose: Anne Wilson — 3:16 (Official Audio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LobSQBqW22w
Here’s a group of people who are apparently happy that they made this resolution, choosing Jesus:”
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” | Tommy Walker (from Generation Hymns 3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC7_Vt-d3Ws
Patty and I hope you accept this good news and choose Jesus just as we did forty and fifty years ago… He’s still working in our lives and we’re still choosing God’s way, God’s truth, and God’ life: Jesus of Bethlehem.
It is the best resolution we ever made!
