Jesus Calls Us
Jesus Calls Us! He was born in Bethlehem, introduced by John, tempted by the devil, and ready to begin His ministry. He only needed one more thing as He began His earthly ministry: an inner core of believers who would carry on His ministry after His death. Who did He call? Did he call political leaders, men who were learned, or the rich?
18 While walking by the Sea of
Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his
brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he
said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20
Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from
there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his
brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and
he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and
followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22, ESV
27
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at
the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving
everything, he rose and followed him.
Luke 5:27-28, ESV
43
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said
to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of
Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have
found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of
Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything
good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus
saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite
indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do
you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you
were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi,
you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
John 1:43-49, ESV
Jesus Calls Us
Jesus Calls Us! He was born in Bethlehem, introduced by John, tempted by the devil, and ready to begin His ministry. He only needed one more thing as He began His earthly ministry: an inner core of believers who would carry on His ministry after His death. Who did He call? Did he call political leaders, men who were learned, or the rich?
If we were to begin an undertaking, who would we call for our "inner core" of support? What requirements would be needed for the right applicants?
Look who Christ chose; Peter, Andrew, James & John, who were all fisherman, Levi, the tax collector, Philip and Nathaniel.
He did not choose political leaders, men who were learned, or those who
were rich. Each of these first seven disciples was just a common
person! Do you think they every wondered why He chose them?
Is
it wrong to be a political leader, learned, or rich? Of course not! The
point here is that Jesus chose commoners--there were no special
requirements, or were there? How did each of these men respond to the
call of Christ? When Jesus calls us are we as quick to respond?
Peter and Andrew
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
James and John
21
And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of
Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father,
mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the
boat and their father and followed him.
Levi (Matthew)
27
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at
the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving
everything, he rose and followed him.
Philip and Nathaniel
He
found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” . . . Philip found
Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law
and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Just
as Jesus called these disciples, so He still calls us to this day. What
special requirements must we fulfill to be used by Him? Nothing! It is
all of Christ! Christ calls us and He equips us for service for Him;
only a heart devoted to Him because of the salvation He has granted to
them is needed.
Jesus calls us! Has He called you?
God Bless You,
Linda
Devotional Reflections from the Bible
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