And They That Came…
Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. - Mark 3:13
Going to a place or unto someone is usually preceded by a call, an appointment or a mutual understanding. Our Lord Jesus in Mark 3:13, called the ones He wanted unto Himself, and they came unto Him.
One key concept that stands out to me is the presence of choice. Many times, there seems to be a lack of acknowledgement of the responsibility that the called need to take to approach Our Lord.
The delivery of an assignment from God to His people (his called), doesn’t happen by compulsion, magic or by chance. There must be a willful movement towards the direction of the call.
In Modern times, there is a phrase for this “It takes Two to Tango”. I don't know the earliest use of this phrase, but it is divinely inspired.
Amos 3:3 says - “Can two walk together, except they be agreed.”
Isaiah 1:18 - “Come now, let us reason together, saith the LORD”
The Lord Our God, more than any other entity respects our existence as potentially wise, spiritual beings. Which is why it takes those who press into the spirit to worship Him appropriately.
John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
The interesting part? It's like an echo that has been sounding right since the foundation of the world. So more often than not, the call has gone out, when you realise you press in. In a local parlance, it is said “When you wake up, that is your morning”. Meaning there is a time for everything, a time to be in ignorance and a time to wake up!.
Don't think that you didn't hear a call; it's already out there, when you find out what to do, where to go and how to press in, then Good Morning!
Welcome to the bright side.
The bright side
The side that is ever morning and no night
The bright side
Full of God’s goodness with no end in sight
The bright side
Overflowing with Salvation, Mercy & Might
The bright side
Where Jesus is ascended seated on the fathers Right-side.
So how do we come to the call
Come as you are: Even the ‘worst sinner’ by the world’s definition has a destiny that is to be discovered. There is therefore no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus.
'Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.'
'So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. '
Romans 7:24-25, Romans 8:1
The verse says it so succinctly there is almost nothing essential that can be added but this; while coming as you are is permitted, there are basic heart issues that would be tried: a test of faithfulness, greed and other similar besetting sin. Be ready to give it up. Desire to be holy and you will be. Not my your power or might but by the Grace of God
Develop an expectation based on knowledge: Salvation is only the starting point. There are several stages in the walk, such that it is almost like you are living 2 lives in one - first a Spiritual and then a Natural. However, as spiritual formation occurs you’d realize that your life should essentially become one. When you meet with the one that gives the call, you will receive assignments & instructions on what to do. It is important that your knowledge of the Holy is ever progressing. While the first level of encounter would be by ‘gift of faith’, there is need to press in - by knowledge - to a higher level called the ‘grace of faith’. God and His ways must be known to you and real to you much more than any material thing on earth.
Steward the call: Like an aircraft taking off, much of the initial phases may seem to have a lot of activities; boarding the flight, making all the mechanical checks and setting the course. Then we have take off - which again requires a lot of activities and effort. Then you enter a place of ‘auto-pilot’, it is just as important as the earlier phases. You have developed the discipline to maintain that your aircraft is on course. It is stewardship. A state of being trust-worthy, loyal and willing to stay until the very end. Whether in the grand scheme of things or specific to individual assignments.
In conclusion, one of my favorite passages of scriptures is Acts 17, where Paul preached to certain people who were worshipping idols. He broke down the scriptures and made a valid statement;
27“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28For in him we live and move and exist.