Did I Not Choose You?

Jesus was doing what His Father told Him to do when He healed the lame 
man on the Sabbath. Because of this the Jewish leaders harassed Jesus 
for breaking the rule of no working on the Sabbath. Then the Jewish 
leaders did not believe Jesus when He claimed to be the Son of God and 
refused to testify on His own behalf.

When Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee where a large crowd began 
to follow Him because they had heard of His miracles. Jesus went up into 
the mountainside with His disciples and Jesus saw a large crown coming 
up the mountainside where He sat. Jesus turning to His disciple Phillip, 
asked a test question (for Jesus knew what he was going to do). Phillip, 
where can we get enough food to feed all these people? Then Jesus 
proceeded to feed five thousand people from three loaves of bread and 
two fishes. 

That evening Jesus disciples were scared while in their boat because of a 
storm that had come up. Jesus walked on the water to His disciple’s boat 
and brought them safely to shore. The next morning large crowds gathered 
on the shore to see Jesus, who told them to spend time seeking that of 
eternity, not that of this world. And while teaching in the synagogue of 
Capernaum Jesus said, “I am the bread of life, whoever eats of the bread 
of life will not be hungry and he who believes in me and drinks the living 
water will not thirst”. And the people began arguing among themselves, as 
they did not understand how they were to eat of Jesus flesh and drink of 
His blood. 

John 6:41-44

The Jews then murmured at Jesus because he said, “I am the 
bread which came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not 
Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? 
How does he now say, “I have come down from heaven?” 
Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me 
draws me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

John 6:60-65

Many of Jesus’ disciples when they heard it, said, “This is 
a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus knowing in 
himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, “Do 
you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the 
Son of man ascending where he was before? It is the spirit 
that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have 
spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you 
who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those 
were that did not believe, and who it was that should betray 
him. And Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can 
come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

In this world, there will be some who will hear the Word of God and they 
will make the choice to scoff at what they are reading and hearing and
with time they may change their mind. They may see the light as Jesus 
disciples came to see, 

John 6:66-69

After this many of Jesus disciples drew back and no longer 
went about with Jesus. Jesus said to the twelve, “Will you go 
away?” Simon Peter answered Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall 
we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have 
believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One 
of God.” 

My diary reads,

I received a request today from an inmate to pray. I met with the inmate 
who wanted to talk and pray. He shared that his biological brother is in 
prison and that he, the inmate, is on his way to prison. The inmate then 
told me that he felt he needed to ask forgiveness for what pain he had 
caused from God. I shared with him the story of King David, Psalm 51, 
who asked God for forgiveness for what he had done when he murdered a 
man and in King David shaming his family with his actions. Per my request 
the inmate slipped his fingers through the isolation slot in his door, his only 
means to the outside world, and I slipped my fingers in between his fingers 
and we prayed. As we prayed he repeated the sinners prayer with me and 
invited Jesus Christ into his heart and soul. The door was opened and I 
held him as he cried tears of regret, of anger, of relief and thankfulness. As 
he looked me in the eyes I told him, “At 10:10 this morning you were 
forgiven through Jesus Christ for what you have done. The world may not 
forgive you and you must serve time for your crime, but in the eyes of God 
through praying the sinner’s prayer you are forgiven. The doors of hell are 
now closed to you and through praying the sinner’s prayer and inviting 
Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior back into your heart and soul, the 
doors of heaven are now open for you. 

When one gets serious about their past, their sins, what’s bothering them, 
in admitting each of them, seeking to make amends, all may not be open 
to our actions but God is. You see it was not my place, our place, to judge. 
When one is asking for prayer and to reaffirm their faith we are called to be 
a prayer warrior, not a judgment warrior. 

Psalm 32: 1-2

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is 
covered. (forgiven) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord 
imputes no iniquity, (put out of sight) and in whose spirit 
there is no deceit (one is living in complete honesty).

When we try to hide our pain, our sins, from God our lives become 
physically, mentally, and emotionally, a miserable mess. Our lives become
an emotional train wreck and we are internally tied up in tornadoes as we
are in constant turmoil.

I almost died in the year of 2000 because my mind and my body were not 
at peace with God and I physically and mentally began to dry up and die. 

Psalm 32:3-4

When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away through 
my groaning all day long. For day and night thy hand was 
heavy upon thee; my strength was dried up as by the heat 
of summer. 

If you have something tearing you apart physically, emotionally, spiritually, 
confess whatever it is that is inside of you to God. For then and only then 
may our heart be set free of a self-destructive behavior of self-destruction.

Then and only then may we have a healthy relationship first with God, 
second with ourselves and third with those around us. For reality is that 
until we have a healthy relationship with God and our self we cannot and 
we will not have a healthy relationship with anyone, human or animal.

Do you want to be free on the inside? Then start at this very moment with 
being honest not to your pastor, not to the world or your family. If you really 
want to be free on the inside like King David did with Psalm 51, then at this 
moment acknowledge and practice 

Psalm 32:5-6,

I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; 
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” then
thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.

God knows who we are, where we are in our lives, what our intentions are 
and the bottom line is this. And the bottom line is the bottom line, my name 
is John Walter Mock and I, as you, have to go to sleep and awaken only to 
my conscience. And only when we are true and listen to the wisdom of God 
can our hearts be set truly free.

Psalm 32:6-7,

Therefore let every one who is godly offer prayer to thee; at a 
time of distress, in the rush if great waters, they shall not 
reach him. Thou art a hiding place for me, thou preservest me 
from trouble; thou dost encompass me with deliverance.

The key to this deliverance is not to listen to what the world has to say, but 
for us to listen to God as he speaks to us, 

Psalm 32:8-9 

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will 
counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a 
mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit 
and bridle, else it will not keep with you.

Jesus knew what the Jewish leaders were doing in their questioning Him 
and arguing amongst themselves but Jesus stood by what His Father told 
Him and did not get caught up in that of this world. 

Why would I pray with a murderer? Why would I get on my knees grasping 
his fingers between my fingers between a slot in his isolation cell? Was it 
for glory? No. Was it to show and tell the world how humble and good I am? 
No. Was it because I knew the deputies were watching me and the other 
inmates? No.  Why...? 

Psalm 32: 10

Many are the pangs of the wicked; but steadfast love 
surrounds him who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, 
and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright 
in heart!

Bring what is bothering you to God. God who knows the truth and the
truth does not stop Him from caring about us or loving us, 

John 6:70-71,

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and 
one of you is a devil. He spoke of Judas the son of Simon 
Iscariot, for he would betray him. 

Let us pray, Father God,

Amazing Grace! How great the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once 
was lost but now am found; was blind, but now I see. Twas grace that 
taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious 
did that grace appear the hour I first believed. Through many 
dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; tis grace 
hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead 
me home. 
Amen



08272006 JWM 




"I was in prison and you visited me."
Matthew 25:36
Image From: Mississippi Kairos



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