We don't have a say in when God calls us.
We do have a choice to make when it happens.
Many individuals find themselves making excuses when the Spirit of the Lord calls them deeper..
Instead of seeing the oppurtunity to partner with the Lord and what can be gained, they only see what will be lost.
This is true for ministers who have already walked in a measure but not in a fulness.
The "Come Follow Me" call Christ gave in Matthew 8 and Luke 9 was not a salvation call.
It was a call to deeper fellowship, discipleship and calling.
If we only read Luke 9, it looks as if Christ is speaking to a random stranger
Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
He told him TO PREACH! This was a commission not a call to salvation.
Now, when we read in Mattew 8, we find that this is not just a random person being called to salvation.
This man was a scribe.
Matthew 8: 19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
This man was a scribe And called Christ Master.
A scribe in the Bible, was a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law; The advice of men skilled in the law was needed in the examination in the causes and the solution of the difficult questions, they were enrolled in the Sanhedrin; and are mentioned in connection with the priests and elders of the people.
They were also writers and taught pertaining the Kingdom of Heaven.
In Luke 9 we read in verse
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Yet in Matthew 8 we find out there was a man that was a disciple. It is believed these men are one and the same by many.
Matthew 8
21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
What we stand to learn from this is that the Come and Follow was not given to the ignorant. It was given to the informed.
What we learn is that they were forfeiting a deeper walk to handle earthly and fleshly matters.
We place the "Come Follow Me" as a salvation call.
According to the Word, it would seem this was a call to those who were already called and walking in a measure, but not a fulness.
This is why we read in Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
These individuals had already put there hand to the plow but were now backing off.
We received the call to salvation and welcomed it. Can we now hear the call to deeper relationship, stewardship, responsibility, sacrifice or whatever He sees we need to step out of and into?
Are we like the scribe who said he would follow but it was for earthly treasures?
Christ let Him know he had no home and no place to find rest in that present moment.
How do we respond to the "Come and Follow Me" call?
Do we think we already know everything He wants to teach us? Therefore we find earthly cares or pleasures as more important?
May we be like the disciples when they were called
Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. place
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
We have no say in when He calls us. We have a choice to make.
Let us pray that we all see the oppurtunity in front of us to grow closer to the Lord.
HE IS CALLING US.
In His Love,
Jesse Griffin
#KingdomReign
