He found me, He chose me

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,  

each of us has turned to his own way; 

and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  Isaiah 53:6

I remember when I gave my testimony as a new convert, I followed the cliche that many Christians used then...."I found God ..."

Although it was not meant to be taken literally, it seems that God was the One who was lost and I, the sinner, finally found Him. It connoted that I was the one earnestly looking and seeking for a god who deliberately hid Himself from sinners.

Thank God that as I read His loving words, I "found" the truth!

All along, it was me, like the flock of sheep that have gone astray, who was lost. It was Jesus Christ, my good Shepherd, who gave up His glory to reach down to earth to sacrificially seek me out and led me back to His safe pastures. He came for me, the lost sheep.(John 6:37-39)

In the same way, I learned that I did not choose to serve Him. He chose and appointed me instead (John 15:16). This revelation drives me daily to look forward to what He wants me to do. This is a marked contrast from my past struggles as I served Him by my choice (and my own intellect). That resulted in fruitless and frustrated labor.

I am liberated in my service to Him because He chose and appointed me. Praise the Lord!

God bless.

Steven