Today's Passage - John 13:18-20

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13:18-20   "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: 'He who shared my bread has turned against me.' ...Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."   The Lord says, "I know those I have chosen." Sometimes we don't quite understand this Bible passage. We think that the Lord chose Judas to betray him. Actually, this is not what this passage means. Rather, when Jesus choose the twelve disciples, he already knows beforehand that Judas will betray him. However, he still did not forsake or loathe Judas. Instead, he still chose Judas and loved him with an unforsaken love. Jesus Christ still longs for Judas to repent and turn back to God during the three and half years he is with him. The Lord's heart is filled with mercy and loving-kindness. Jesus knows whom he chose. He knows that Judas will betray him. His heart is sorrowful and hurts because of this, but he is still willing to grant him mercy.    Whenever I think about the grace and mercy of the Lord, I cannot help but to offer up thanksgiving and praise to my Lord. Think about this, why did the Lord choose people like us who are so lowly and unworthy? Brothers and sisters, my only answer is this: "O Lord, if you choose to use people like me who are so weak and you are willing to work together with me, what else can I say? I can only say, "O Lord, if you are willing to use me, then use me completely! I can only offer my whole self to you!" The more I think about God's love, the more I can't help but to offer myself wholly to him. May God help us, so that we will not refuse the Lord's calling and his love, but let us open our hearts to accept our Lord and to follow him!    The Lord says, "...whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." Because of Jesus Christ, we can come to the Heavenly Father. The Lord says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." We need to come before God, to put our hope in him alone, to trust in him, and in our everyday lives to follow him and to serve him, so that our service will not be in vain, so that we will not run an empty race, and so that our life will receive the reward that the Lord desires for us.          Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I thank you because you chose me and showered grace upon me by your mercy and compassion. Help me to persevere in following you, serving you, and pleasing you and to receive the prize that you had prepare for me in Christ.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!