Chosen
Chosen than Changed
Matthew, the tax collector, was an Israelite who collected taxes for the Roman Empire. The Israelites living under the oppression of the Roman
Empire despised tax collectors. Matthew did not care; he lived a charmed life. He socialized with the wealthy and elite of society. He had a high-profile job, which paid well and came with dishonest perks. From Matthew’s perspective, life was good.
For Matthew, the chosen, life changed when Christ approached him and said, “Follow me.”
Many of Christ’s apostles were fishermen. Christ invited them to become “fishers of men.” In contrast, Matthew was a businessman, but like the fishermen, Matthew was chosen. Matthew, the taxpayer, left his worldly comforts and followed Christ. Matthew, the chosen, wrote the first book of the four Gospels of Christ. The book of Matthew chronicles the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ. But Matthew also includes the parables, the miracles, as well as the sermons of Christ.
Before Matthew met Christ, he was a writer who worked as a tax collector. After Matthew met Christ, he used his gift of writing to record his spiritual journey with Christ. In a world of political upheaval intertwined with religion, the prophesized Messiah began his earthly ministry. Matthew was chosen as an apostle of Christ. Matthew not only served as an apostle, but he witnessed and recorded the ministry of Christ. Over time, Matthew came to realize that people from all earthly kingdoms and all walks of life are chosen by Christ.
Martha the Servant
Martha the sister of Mary lived in the town of Bethany. Her brother Lazarus was a rich man. When guests were welcomed into their homes, Martha saw to their comfort. Jesus was a frequent visitor to the home of Lazarus. On one such occasion, Martha complained to Christ about her sister’s unwillingness to help her serve their guests. However, Christ pointed out to Martha that Mary’s thirst to know Him was more important.
Sometimes, Martha’s complaint is looked upon unfavorably, but she shouldn’t be. Martha’s gift was serving others. Martha’s gift gave her a sense of logic and order. While others sat at the feet of Jesus, she served them because it needed to be done. However, Martha’s gift of service did not prevent her from hearing the message of Christ. When her brother Lazarus was taken ill and died, Martha knew Christ could have saved his life. She also believed that Christ was the Messiah and would raise her brother from the dead on resurrection day. Because of Martha’s faith, Jesus chose Martha to reveal that He was indeed the Messiah. When Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, Martha’s faith in Christ revealed what her logic could never comprehend.
The story of Martha can be found in Luke 10:38–41 and John 11–12.
Mary the Anointer
Mary of Bethany was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. Jesus was a frequent visitor to the home of Lazarus, and while he taught, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Mary was a worshiper. The more she learned from Christ, the more she wanted to learn. The night before Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, a dinner was given in His honor at the home of Lazarus. It was on this evening that Mary washed Jesus’ feet with oil and dried them with her hair. When Judas Iscariot complained, Jesus informed him that Mary was preparing him for his burial.
Mary was a faithful worshiper; she had sat at the feet of Jesus throughout His ministry. Because sitting at the feet of Jesus was Mary’s top priority, she probably heard, and more importantly, understood things that others did not. Jesus had told His told His disciples on numerous occasions that His time earth would be short, and yet they did not comprehend the full meaning of His ministry. On Christ’s last visit to Bethany, Mary knew in her heart and in her spirit Jesus’ time had come to fulfill the Scriptures. So with humility and honor, she anointed Christ.
The story of Mary of Bethany can be found in John 11–12.
David a Chosen King
When the Israelites demanded a king, the prophet Samuel knew they were wrong. However, God told Samuel to anoint Saul from the tribe of Benjamin as king of Israel. During Saul’s reign, the people soon found out that an earthly kingdom did not guarantee that their king would obey the Word of God. In fact, Saul’s disregard for God’s commandments would be his downfall and cost him the kingdom of Israel.
King David, from the tribe of Judah, was God’s chosen king. David was not a perfect man, but God described him as “a man after his own heart.” David was a shepherd who had the heart of a leader, the heart of a warrior, and a heart of a poet. But more important, David had the heart of a worshiper. David’s love of God was apparent by his faith in God and in his worship of God.
Although David was an imperfect man, and an imperfect king, his love of God remained steadfast. A humble servant of God, he knew the blessings of his life came from God. In happy times and in despair, David remained a servant of God. At the lowest point in his life, he repented to God, mourned his loss, and eventually accepted God’s will (see Psalm 51). It was King David, whom God made a covenant with, establishing a kingdom that would last forever. King David was God’s chosen king for Israel, but more importantly, David’s family line was chosen for the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
You can read more about David in 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, and 1 Chronicle.