“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

It is evident throughout Scripture that God initiates relationships. Some are invitations, some are callings and others are appointments, but God initiates it all.

Jesus does the same with His disciples. Throughout the Gospels you see Jesus inviting others to follow Him — sometimes with the directive “come follow Me,” sometimes by His teaching, and sometimes by the power He displayed. He talks with His disciples, according to John 15, about friendship and doing life together. The first thing He did was invite them into a relationship. We see in the verse above that He chose them.

Since you are reading this, it is evident that at some point you have been invited into a relationship with Jesus — maybe years ago, maybe as you are reading this website. Regardless of our maturity in Christ, we are asked to be in relationship with others in a way that points them to Christ.

My pastor urges us to help people feel like they belong before the believe. What he means is that we need to initiate and invest in the lives around us, so they see the love of Christ. It is not so much an invitation to church, but an invitation into Christ-centered relationship.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”  — 2 Corinthians 5:17

— Steve Sisco, Baseball Chapel

The Increase, part of the Sports Spectrum Network, is a community of Christian pro athletes sharing their personal stories of the decrease of self and the increase of Christ (John 3:30). Visit TheIncrease.com for more stories and videos.