“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
John 15:16
Dear HBIC Family,
At least once or twice a year, you will hear me talk about Rich Mullins. If we hang out often or talk about life and faith, there’s a good chance I will share something that I learned from the life and witness of Rich Mullins. As a singer and songwriter, Rich left an indelible mark on Christian music, especially here in America. As a theologian, and companion for many years, Rich has always had a significant impact on my faith.
Rich’s Songs album is a compilation album that taught me to sing my praises to the Lord, that my God is an awesome God, that though I may falter in my steps…I’ll never falter beyond God’s reach. It taught me that we are not as strong as we think we are, that it’s ok to cry out, “hold me Jesus,” that faith without works is like a song we can’t sing, and that the goal of my life is to be like Jesus: to live and love the way Jesus lived and loved. I still listen to this album regularly, and the songs have become modern day psalms for many of us.
Rich passed away in 1997 in a tragic accident. I didn’t feel the loss nearly as deeply as those who knew him personally. However, I felt the weight of his songs and words even more. In 1998, his last album The Jesus Record was released posthumously. This album has the songs that marched me into Anabaptism and the Brethren in Christ. Rich had sought out to record “ten songs about Jesus.” In these demos and then in the studio covers by his many friends, I found the Jesus I wanted to follow and the Scriptures about Jesus were easier to see and understand.
My favorite song on Rich’s The Jesus Record is That Where I am, There You May Also Be. This song is about some of my favorite of all of Jesus’ promises to us. In song, Rich reminds us that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, but will return for us…that where Jesus is, there we may also be. For those of us who grew up singing Countdown in Sunday School, this was a fresher update. And though this song is about Jesus’ return, Rich moves us from John 14 to John 15 by also reminding us in this song that we are to remember that Jesus has chosen us.
This week, we’ll be continuing the second half of our Remembrance series by looking at the call to remember why God is revealed through Jesus in the New Testament. To help us remember why, I will join Rich and Jesus in reminding us all that God so loved us…that Jesus chose us. To prepare for this week’s services, I would like to invite you to read and meditate on John 15:1-17. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:
What does it mean to abide in Christ? How are you doing that today?
How has God loved you? And how are you loving others right now?
What does it mean for you to lay down your lives for others?
What is the significance of Jesus choosing you?
What is the significance of Jesus loving you today?
Sisters and brothers, in a world that can be built on exclusivity, the love of God invites you into the kingdom and God’s family. We are blessed to have been chosen by Jesus. In faith, we know Jesus. In life, we are empowered by the Spirit. In witness, we glorify our father in heaven and shine our lights for his glory.
God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (John 15:16)