Hearing the call

DAILY BYTE

There’s another way in which we opt for one more night with the frogs. It’s through our failure to prioritize the call of God to give our lives to the greater purposes of God’s Kingdom.

In Matthew 8 we read about a teacher of the law who comes to Jesus and confidently says to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus reminds him that that’s easier said than done.

The passage then moves to other disciples making similar promises of their own, but only after they’ve dealt with other priorities in their lives. “I will follow you Lord, said one, but first let me go and bury my father.” “I will follow you Lord, said another, but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.”

Jesus’ replies seem harsh and unsympathetic, as he effectively dismisses these concerns as incidental to the priority of God’s Kingdom. Now of course, Jesus isn’t being anti-family. He’s simply saying that there is no more pressing priority than giving yourself to him in discipleship. And that there is never a reason good enough to delay that from happening.

Remember, when Jesus called his very first disciples, Simon & Andrew, he said to them, ‘Come, follow me.’ And IMMEDIATELY they left what they were doing and followed Jesus. Then Jesus saw James and John. WITHOUT DELAY he called them and IMMEDIATELY they left their father and followed him.

We think that their response is somehow beyond us. But the story challenges our assumptions about what is most important in our lives. Think about it. Why would anyone not want to devote this one chance at life to some magnificent purpose?

Why would we not want these miraculous lives of ours to be offered to some great and glorious end?

What motivation could we possibly have to settle for unimaginative, mediocre, lackluster lives?

Why would we want to spend even one more night with the frogs when Christ calls us to a life that is so much more.

As you think about these questions, reflect further on these beautiful words of a contemporary song written by Gwyn Williams:

Jesus is calling us to a life that’s full, that’s free
He calls us out of mediocrity
So let us answer ‘Yes’
We will stand with him
To be the very best that we can be

We’re sons of light
And daughters of the day
Created to live in the light
Sons of light
And daughters of the day
Today, hear Jesus say:
“Walk out into daylight
Walk out from the night
Walk out dressed in faith and love
Walk out! Walk out!”
Walk out to salvation
Walk away from fear
For Jesus Christ has died to give you life
Walk out!

PRAY AS YOU GO

Lord Jesus Christ, in the prayer that you taught us we pray for your Kingdom to come and your will to be done. There can be no greater priority in our lives than that of doing your will, and serving the purposes of your Kingdom – for this is what will bring us and all those around us life in all its fullness. Help us to hear your call, and give us the wisdom and willingness to obey, without delay. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 8:18-27 (incl. Luke 9:61-62)

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.