The Call And Its Purpose (Lu. 14:26-27)

Read Luke 14:26-27.

The call is not to come to Jesus but to follow Him.  Follow for what purpose?  Obedience.  Most times, obedience is not convenient.  It is costly.  It is lonely.  It is to be  one's lifestyle.

Too many want proximity without responsibility: they are fascinated but not separated, "all in" not not sold out, committed but not crucified.

1 Samuel 16:7

Read 1 Samuel 16:7.

Don't allow anyone other than God to dictate your destiny.

My Prayer (06/14/17)

Read 2 Corinthians 3:6.

Lord, make me an effective minister.  My sufficiency is in You and from You.  Keep me focused more on obedience than success.  Should any praise come my way, help me remember to deflect it back to You in praise.  You alone deserve the glory!  Thank You for the privilege of the call.

Leaving All for the Call (Mt 4:18-22)

Today's reading was Luke 4 and Matthew 4.

1. The call of Jesus is a call to separate and prioritize. Jesus called the four men. They immediately left what they were doing and whom they were with.
2. What the four men left was good. Their livelihood was wholesome and productuve. Family relationships were wholesome. This is where many people stumble. They grasp having to leave behind sin and a sinful lifestyle. Difficulty arises when Jesus calls them to leave good things -- good paying jobs (at least steady jobs) and dear family. For this reason, some reject the call.
3. You will find deeper fulfillment in God's call than in the lack of it. Peter and Andrew fished for fish. Jesus promised to make them fishers of men. How much more valuable are men than fish.
4. When you are called to follow Jesus, you are called to evangelism. The first thing mentioned in connection with Jesus' call was catching people for Him. If you're not willing to be a witness and be involved in the work of evangelism, you should check to make sure you're really a follower of Jesus. You might discover you're only a follower of religion.
5. Jesus will reward those who leave everything in order to follow Him. Read Matthew 19:27-29.

What is Jesus asking you to leave behind in your pursuit of Him? Following Him always means leaving something or someone else. This is so Jesus can always have first place (Col 1:18).