You Are Ordained by God

By Paul Chappell

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 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: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

John 15:14-16

One of the most important and meaningful days of my life occurred in 1983 when I was ordained as a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During that service, men of God came and prayed over me as I was appointed to fill the office of ministry to which God had called me. I cherish the memory of that day.

While we have special services to ordain men as pastors and deacons for those offices of the church, there is also a very real sense in which each believer is ordained—especially appointed by God—not for a church office, but to be a fruitful Christian. Many today have fallen into the trap of thinking that “church work” is only the responsibility of full-time Christian workers. In reality, every believer is meant to be a fruitful, productive, active worker in God’s kingdom.

Bearing fruit is God’s calling and purpose for your life according to the words of Jesus. The Lord has appointed each one of us to "bring forth fruit." God has no backup plan for reaching the world—He has entrusted that task to each of us as His children. We must be telling the Good News and helping others come to faith in Christ. No matter what spiritual gifts and abilities you have, they are meant to be used to produce fruit.

Today's Rooted Principle:

Do everything you can today to fulfill God’s appointed purpose for your life by bearing fruit.