JESUS IS CALLING
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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. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
Introduction:
It has pleased God on many occasions to give marks of his special approbation (approval or praise) to persons while they were employed in their worldly callings.
1. David was taken from his father’s sheep-folds, when he was appointed to feed and govern the kingdom of Israel.
2. The shepherds were watching over their flocks by night, when a choir of angels announced to them the Messiah’s birth.
3. And four of the Apostles were occupied in spreading, or in mending their nets, when the Lord Jesus selected them for his stated and most intimate attendants.
We do not mean to say, that by leaving a position earthly duties can merit any thing at the hand of God, or that God will have deep admiration of it because of their abilities, qualitiy or achievements:
But certainly, to fulfil the duties of our respective stations is a service highly pleasing and acceptable unto God; nor are we ever more likely to receive blessings from God, than when we are occupied in performing the offices which he himself has assigned us.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
How Far the Call Given to Them Is Applicable to Us
A Call To embrace his religion
We cannot follow Christ one single step, without first coming to him as the Saviour of the world.
We must regard him as the true Messiah; we must view him as invested with all power in heaven and in earth, that he might redeem us to God by his blood, and deliver us by his almighty grace.
We must consider him as having all fullness treasured up in him for us, that we may receive out of it, according to our respective necessities, “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
It is not merely to give an approval to certain truths that we are called, but to realize them, and to live upon them.
We must not merely acknowledge that Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and that “he has reconciled us to God by his blood,” but we must determine, with the Apostle, to know nothing but Christ crucified, to trust in nothing but his righteousness, and to glory in nothing but his cross——]
A Call To walk in his steps
Next to our believing in him is that obedience which we are to give service to his commandments.
If faith in him is the root, obedience to him is the fruit, which must immediately and with increasing abundance, proceed from it.
Our blessed Lord came, not only to save us by his death and passion, but, to “set us an example that we should follow his steps.”
To follow him, therefore, we must “walk as he walked.” Behold his zeal for the glory of his God and Father; it even “consumed him,” so ardently did it burn within him: such should be our zeal also: it should be “our meat and drink to do our Father’s will.”
Behold his humility
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
His patience
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
His compassion
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
His love
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
In all of these we are to resemble him; and to be progressively “changed into his image from glory to glory by the Spirit of our God”
—O that all who profess themselves his followers were more like Him in the whole of his spirit and temper!
It is this that marks the Christian: all without this is hypocrisy and delusion.
A Call To devote ourselves openly to his service
[It is well to be Christians in our secret chamber: but we must remember, that “our light is also to shine before men.”
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
We must confess Christ before men: and if we are ashamed or afraid to do so, we cannot be his disciples. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
His name, his cause, his people are despised by an ungodly world: and we must share in their contempt: we must “follow him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”
We must be singular; we cannot resemble him without being singular; because the ungodly world are as opposite to him as darkness is to light:
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Nay, we are not to be contented with “abstaining from fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; we are actively and boldly to reprove them;” and must shew ourselves on the Lord’s side; endeavouring to maintain his honour, and to advance his interests in the world——]
We are required to follow Christ in these respects, no less than the Apostles themselves.
This call, I say, is given equally to us;
In What Manner We Should Obey It
We need only notice the conduct of these holy Apostles, and we shall be at no loss how to regulate our own.
The command itself is plain; and we must obey it,
1. Instantly, without delay
We see not the smallest hesitation in any one of those whom Jesus called, in our text.
we find that one expressed a wish “to go first and bid farewell” to his friends; and another desired to “go first and bury his father.
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
But there is no time for compliment on an occasion like this.
The call of God is of supreme importance: nothing is for a moment to interfere with our obedience to it.
We know not but that it may be the last call we ever shall receive.
The persons invited to the marriage supper wished to excuse themselves for that time; but they were never invited again:
On the contrary, the founder of the feast resolved, that “no one of them should ever taste of his supper.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
O that we may not foolishly dream of “a more convenient season,” which shall never arrive!
But let us “today, while it is called today,” comply with this divine call.
Let us imitate the man after God’s own heart, whose experience is recorded in those memorable words.
I made haste, and delayed not
To keep thy commandments.