Called

By Shauna Leis

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen.   ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’  At once they left their nets and followed him.   Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.  They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.  Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

                                                                                    Matthew 4:18-22

            My brother and I grew up in a fairly small neighborhood just south of Louisville, KY.  There were only three streets in our neighborhood so our mom knew that we had not gone very far when we were playing.  When it was getting dark, or time for dinner, or just possibly we were in trouble for something, my mom could stand on the front porch and call for us to come home.  We knew that when we heard her voice we were to drop everything that we were doing and come back home.  No matter what we were doing, we knew that the consequences of not following her calling would be much worse than leaving what we were doing. 

            The example of the disciples in the gospel of Matthew is exactly how my brother and I responded those years ago as children.  The disciples were busy in their ordinary lives, making a living as fishermen.  They were not expecting to hear the voice of their Lord, Jesus Christ calling out to them that day while their nets were still in the water.  Jesus did not give any lengthy explanation of why they should leave all that they knew (jobs, family, and friends) and follow Him that day.  He only called out to them…”Come, follow Me.”  And they did!  No questions, no complaining, no arguing.  They immediately submitted to His authority and followed after Him.  They had no idea what they might be getting into or how much this action would change their lives forever, but they knew the voice that called them, and they responded.

How many of us today can say that we have been “called” into our line of work or left all that we have ever known because God has called us out?  Or maybe God has called us to be an example of Him in our lives as they are today.  My father is an example of someone called into his line of work.  Many years ago at the age of 18, he felt God calling him to be in full time ministry, devoting his life to the Lord.  He has been a pastor ever since, serving at three different churches, a chaplain at Churchill Downs, missions committees, and more.  He and my mom have made sacrifices along the way in earthly terms.  However, what means so much more are the lives that have been touched by his answering that call - people who have found Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and are waiting for the day that he joins them in heaven so they can tell him Thank You. 

I am one of those people, touched by the example of my father, giving up all that he might have had to follow God’s voice.  That is why I am writing this devotion to you today.  God has called me to tell my story so that others might know Him through me.  Have you heard His voice and responded to that call?  Have you heard His voice, but you are still wondering what to do?  Today, I pray that you will understand the example of the disciples and jump out of the boat to follow Him.

Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we know that You call each of us to be in Your service some how.  We pray that You will provide us with the courage to answer that call, whatever it might be  large or small.  Show us how in all things to glorify You and listen to Your voice above all of the other noise of the world.  There are so many distractions and pulls on our lives that attempt to keep us from reaching You, but God, we are determined to drop everything and follow after You.  We love You so much God and want to hear You and know You.  Be real to us today!