For he is a chosen vessel

Brother Felmar Serreno: When a CEO is looking for someone to promote, the individual is usually determined based on their credentials and exceptional qualities. This is also true in sports, academics, and other fields. There is always some kind of standard by which people measure others. But how do you determine if someone is a genuine messenger of God? Is there a standard for that? Does it even matter? Hi, and welcome to the podcast version of God’s Message Magazine. Our episode today is: “For he is a chosen vessel.”

Brother Felmar: Man’s daily undertakings involve choosing and deciding. His need for choosing wisely is so evident that, in the modern era, he has formulated a rubric based on vast fields of knowledge to avoid making wrong decisions. Big corporations are thorough in choosing employees. As they say in corporate management, ‘employees are assets of the company’; thus, profiling every applicant is a must, to be certain that he fits the job. Such is the reason man is baffled upon hearing news that is non-normative to his matrix. One of these is the belief of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) about Brother Felix Y. Manalo as God’s messenger in these last days. People ask, how can a man from a developing country with no degree be fit for such a high calling? 

God’s standard 

Brother Felmar Serreno: The Lord God stated, 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…

[Isaiah 55:8 New International Version] 

Man might set scholarly standards or put greater value in societal stature but God clarifies that His standards are different from man’s. In fact, in prophecy, the messenger he chose is likened to a worm, meaning people would reproach and despise him (Isaiah 41:14; Psalm 22:6). This is the reason Church Of Christ members are not surprised if others question the divine authority given by God to Brother Felix Manalo. What then is the basis of God in choosing those whom He sends? The Lord looks at the heart: 

So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, ‘Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him.’ But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance but the LORD looks at the heart.’ … Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 

[I Samuel 16:6-7, 13 New King James Version]
Brother Felmar Serreno: When God commanded Samuel to choose a king for Israel, He stressed not to look on the physical qualities or stature that is often seen as important by man. He clarified that His standard is beyond what man can perceive: He can see through one's heart or intention. Others might say that they do not question these standards, but how can they be sure that Brother Felix Manalo is the one commissioned by God to be His messenger?
Elected by the Most High

Brother Felmar Serreno: Why do members of the Church Of Christ recognize Brother Felix Manalo as God's messenger? They firmly believe that he is the fulfillment of the chosen servant in the following prophecy:

Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the LORD, am the first; And with the last I am He. ... You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away.

[Isaiah 41:4,9 New King James Version]