A Call Changes Everything

When I graduated from college, I went to work for Kelly Springfield as a Chemist. I lived at Jernigan Warren Funeral Home and worked there at night and weekends and I taught Chemistry and Physics at a local college. I was busy all the time but I wasn’t happy. One night I went into the Funeral Home Chapel and asked God what He wanted me to do. The answer was not what I wanted to hear but it was direct. I applied to Duke Seminary and got accepted. I gave notice to my employers and started work on getting a License to Preach. I got my License and was assigned two small churches in Chatham County, N. Duke started in September and I moved into the parsonage at Moncure, NC on July 1. In order to listen to God’s call, I had to leave what I was doing.

Matthew tells us that Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee when he saw Peter and his brother Andrew casting nets into the sea. Jesus invited them to “come and follow me… and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19) The text tells us that Jesus saw two other fishermen, James and his brother John and offered them a similar invitation (vs. 21). Jesus appointed twelve men to be His disciples. Luke 6:14-16 says “Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot. All of these men had to leave something in order to become Jesus’ Apostles. Peter and Andrew “left their nets” (vs. 20. James and John “left the boat and their father and followed Him.” (vs. 22) Luke 5:11 says, “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11).

A call changes everything! Every call to Jesus includes a call from something else. God calls all of us into a relationship with Him. Once we have been called, we are then called to serve! My call was to be a pastor. Your call may be to serve in a thousand different ways. The important thing is to hear our call and obey.

Prayer – Father, help me understand what my call is and what I may need to leave in order to obey Your Call! Amen

Matthew 4:20 – At once they left their nets and followed him.

Author: Tommy Herndon