“This world has nothing for me…I will follow you…”
God told Abram to pack up his household and go to the place “I will show you.”
Jesus called to the disciples, “Come follow me.” And they left their nets and followed. Tonight I talked with friends who are preparing to move out of state because his factory has been closed here and they are hoping to have a job in Virginia. They have both been lifelong residents of this area. Yet, they are prepared to uproot their lives, move away from families and friends, resettle four children (including one in high school and one in middle school), and start over in a brand new place. But she’s told me they have great peace about moving out there. In fact, both their teenagers are excited (and THAT has to be a work of God, right??!!) It’s like God is saying “pack and go to the place I will show you. The economy certainly isn’t “calling” them to Virginia, like God was calling Abram, but this may be a time when God is calling them to a new field of ministry. And they are willing to go.
We’ve probably each been through times in our lives where God has called us to GO but not told us where we are going. Or we may be discerning now what God’s call is or how to follow him. Once we were members of a church searching for a new pastor. This process of discernment and exploration led to many questions. What if this wasn’t a “simple” pastor hire? What if God’s call was more involved to us — maybe to “pack up” the way we’ve been doing ministry and “go” to a place God will show us? Sometimes the simplest invitation – “Come, follow me” – can have the most profound impact on our lives. So my prayer for this week…
God of Provision, Wisdom, and Perfect Timing,
Help us seek first your Kingdom
Help us listen to your Wisdom and put it into practice
Help us know the plans you have for our future, a future with hope
Help us trust you when we are walking through the chaos of decision making
Help us to be patient and recognize that your strength will hold us up when we are waiting for direction
Help us be willing to quit what we are doing and then follow you when you call us to a new place
Lord Jesus, come guide our feet into your paths of righteousness
Holy Spirit, come, refresh, revive, restore, comfort, and whisper peace into our storm-tossed souls.
May our words, thoughts, and deeds be pleasing and acceptable to you, our Rock and Redeemer. Amen.
The Call of Abram
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
So Abram left, as the LORD had told him… (from Genesis 12:1-4 NIV)
The Calling of the First Disciples
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20 NIV)
(adapted from post written 7/9/2009)