Daily Bible Verses for 7/4/2016

Bible Verse
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Reading Notes
Jesus makes it clear here to His disciples that He chose them not because of their merit, but because of His love and His sovereign choice. The purpose of God’s sovereign election of believers is that they through Him should bear fruit. We have been blessed with the revelation of God, regarding Himself and His plan of redemption! Both by the Holy Spirit who indwells us and through God’s written revelation of Himself to us which is the Bible. In addition, the Holy Spirit enlightens and therefore deepens our understanding of scripture as we study God’s word. This is because of our relationship with God, which has been restored by our faith in Jesus. With our salvation comes the understanding of who Jesus is and what He means to us. This knowledge changes how we view scripture, and opens up our understanding of the Bible and God’s plan of redemption.

Jesus also told His followers when speaking of the scriptures, they are the revelation which speaks of Him. God’s word the Bible in its entirety speaks of God’s plan of redemption. Therefore the Bible front to back is about Jesus Christ our Lord, and God’s plan of redemption for mankind. Which means we as followers of Jesus and co-heirs with Him are called to spread the Good News of salvation in His name. We as children of God adopted into the family of God through Jesus, have no greater a responsibility than to preach the Gospel of Christ. And when we seek Jesus and we follow His will through the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we begin to align our will with God’s will. And when that happens and we submit to God, His power works through us and we bear fruit which brings people to faith in Christ. This happens because the Holy Spirit works with them through God’s message displayed in us. God’s word and our love for Jesus is displayed through our actions and treatment of others, and gives evidence of our faith to those who are lost in this dark world.