"Drafted to Be Blessed"

Scripture: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:" -John 15:16

As a sports enthusiast, I get really excited when it is time for the NBA Draft. It takes place on the last Thursday in June and is usually held in New York City's Madison Square Garden. On this particular night, sixty young men realize their dream of being drafted from their respective colleges and countries to be a part of a NBA franchise. After the Draft is said and done, the players meet their teams, their coaches, and most importantly, sign the contracts that may allow them to bless their families and take care of their personal needs in the present and for the future. If truth were told and we examined this thing from a spiritual aspect, God has drafted you and me to be blessed! Notice what I said here, GOD has drafted us to be blessed and today's main scripture will emphasize this point of His drafting of us to be blessed.

Our main scripture today is located in the Gospel account according to John. John's account is the fourth and final account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the New Testament; however, he writes his account from a different angle. The previous writers, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, dealt with Christ's geneaology and being born of a virgin Mary. On the other hand, the Gospel according to John depicts Jesus as the Word in the very beginning of the book. You catch this thought process when the book begins with "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" and that "The Word became flesh". Within today's focal chapter, Christ is on the scene discussing the Vine and its branches and how the world hated the disciples. Within the first theme of Christ's discussion of the Vine and its branches is where we find our focus text.

John captures Jesus' thoughts by writing, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you". In other words, God has chosen each and everyone of us. Even those who have not came to Him just yet, He has chosen them as well. Jesus wanted the disciples and believers everywhere to understand that God and He chose us. He chose us to blot out our sins! He chose us to give us a fresh start in life after sin! He chose us to help us defeat the enemies of our past! He chose us to birth the visions He has placed in our bellies! He chose us for greater dimensions in Him! He chose us to help our brother and sister out! In other words, God had a night where He drafted you! He said, "With the first pick in God's draft, God selected ___________ (fill in the blank with your name)"!

Because God chose us and not us choosing Him, He also did something else. The text says that not only did He chose you, but He "ordained you". Isn't that a powerful thought? God drafted you and ordained you! When God ordains you, there's something special that He is brewing inside of you. Many of us have been ordained to love, to help our families seek the Lord, to be a beacon of light at the job, to display love where everyone sees real love, to show people why Jesus is the better than the best, and other things. You, my brother, and my sister, have been ordained for greatness! How do I know you've been ordained for this?

We know this because the text concludes by saying, "that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit shall remain!" Since God ordained you and I, and chose us, He has drafted us to be blessed! He has drafted us that our seeds that we have planted will excel and be fertile! He wants the best for you and I! With this being said, make the most of being drafted by God! Make the most of the blessings He has for you! Make the most of life and watch what He will do for you!