Reflection -- Following Your Call

You have a call to ministry.  Oh, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up your job and become a missionary, a pastor, or an evangelist (although it could!).  It could be to teach a Sunday school class, or to be a member of your church’s Board, or to be an usher, or to sit down at home with your telephone and call people who need caring human contact, or to just listen to a troubled person somewhere.  Sometimes, in the early stages, its just a call to surrender and let God work with you to get your own life in order.  But whatever shape it may take, you -- yes you -- have a call to discipleship.

When your call to follow Jesus becomes clear, there is really no other intelligent choice but to say yes.  In no other way will you reach your full potential and find real, satisfying fulfillment.

Today’s gospel stories give us some important information about answering your call.  First of all, not everyone will understand.  If your call is genuine, you should expect some confirmation ¾ especially from those who are spiritually mature ¾ but some others will just think you’re nuts.  “You’re going to give up what and go do what?”  And often that rejection will come from those who have know you best and longest; family and friends.  People who knew the “old you” may be unable to see the “new you.”  Your gifts and your call may well be most effective with those who know you least because they have no preconceptions.  They won’t be burdened with all the baggage of the past.  They won’t think, “Who does he/she think he/she is?  Isn’t this just Mary and Joe’s kid who used to come by and do carpentry work for mom?”

Next, trust that you’ll be equipped.  When Jesus sends people out, he gives them what they need to get the job done.  With the 12, it was “authority over evil spirits.”  The thought of public speaking may fill your soul with terror right now, but if that is your call, God will provide that ability.  A favorite wall plaque says “the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”  It’s a favorite because I’ve found it to be a time-tested truth.

A corollary is that what we need to follow Jesus is often a lot less than we think.  The 12 were sent out with only the authority they needed to get the job done and the clothes on their backs.  What’s needed is a large bag of faith and not much else.  Following Jesus usually means keeping flexible and traveling light.  This is the scary part ¾ letting go of all that “stuff” that keeps us encumbered.  Whatever it is ¾ material possessions you don’t really need, unhealthy relationships, old habits, having to know in advance exactly how everything is going to work ¾ all that stuff will have to go.

Finally, there will be some dust to shake from your feet.  Not everybody will be ready to receive what God has given you to offer.  Your gifts and your call won’t always be welcomed.  This will likely be a bitter pill at first (we all want to be liked and appreciated), but expect it.  The point is not to sit by the road holding your head in despair, or stick around forever thinking “surely, eventually they’ll get it,” but to get up and move on.  Around the next bend, where you least expect it, will be that situation where the power of God will flow through you effectively to drive out the “demons,” anoint with God’s blessings, and heal broken lives.  And that is why you were born.

revclay

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Mark 6:1-13

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.  When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!  Isn't this the carpenter?  Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?  Aren't his sisters here with us?"  And they took offense at him. 

Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."  He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.  Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.  These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff -- no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.  Wear sandals, but not an extra tunic.  Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.  And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." 

They went out and preached that people should repent.  They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.  [NIV]