Call Stories

As he walked 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. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4: 18-20


These call stories Matthew tells about Peter, his brother Andrew, and James and John remind me of the call stories that people who go to seminary later in life tell. Stories of how Jesus broke in to their lives—invited them to follow—and how their lives were totally changed as they dropped everything to follow him.

But not everyone does what these fishermen did, or what older seminarians do—not everyone just walks away from their work and their everyday lives to follow Jesus. And not everyone can. Not everyone can just pick up, leave everything behind and follow Jesus in such a dramatic fashion. And not everyone has to. Because following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean leaving everything behind and going somewhere new.  Some people are called to fish for people, others are called to fish for fish.

Because Jesus comes to us, just as he came to Peter, Andrew, James and John—in the midst of our ordinary routines of life. And he invites us, just as he invited them, into a new way of being—a new way of seeing the world—a new way of looking at other people. Maybe not necessarily to totally shake things up and turn your life upside down (although it could be…that’s between you and God to sort out). Maybe your call is to be a follower of Jesus right where you are…being his hands, feet and voice to those you come in contact with everyday…as he helps you to see things in a new way…a more kind, compassionate, non-judgmental way…a more loving way. The way Jesus sees things.

Jesus invites us to follow him and be HIS church…a community of people who embody him in the world. And, as the apostle Paul teaches, in order to BE the church that actually DOES embody Christ in the world, we are to be ‘united in the mind and purpose’ of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:10

And that is the mind and purpose that personifies the LOVE of God for us and for the world...that brings salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ... that gives hope to others by placing their needs ahead of our own…that loves God and loves our neighbor…that trusts God above everything else, knowing that God will provide...and that sees the world through Jesus’ eyes.

Jesus invites us to follow him and find our identity in him…not in anyone or anything else. He invites us into a shared identity that unifies us in purpose and mission…the shared identity of ‘followers of Jesus.’

As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Matthew 4: 21-22

Trusting God. Following Jesus.
Pastor Roy+