There was a tone of urgency in my father’s voice… “LeRoy, come here!”I could have refused to respond… but wouldn’t have chosen to respond! There was something in the tone of his voice – the urgency – my relationship with him – my knowledge of him – that caused me to respond obediently and immediately!
This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage like that… A passage that would describe as “Christ’s Charismatic Call.” It was more than just an invitation (although it was that). It was almost a summons! It had magnetic, drawing power. It invited – probably instigated or catalyzed a positive response is a better way to describe it. Here the description of it from the Bible for your consideration…
“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘FOLLOW ME, and I will make you fishers of men!’ IMMEDIATELY they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and HE CALLED THEM. IMMEDIATELY they left the boat and their father AND FOLLOWED HIM.” (From Matthew 4:18-22)
Do you remember when you heard the Gospel… God’s call – God’s summons – to believe what God had done for you through Jesus Christ, embrace it, and begin the lifelong journey of following Christ? Do you remember? You probably could have resisted it… but there was something about it – a magnetic drawing power – that invited a positive, obedient response! Apostle Paul called it “the obedience of faith!” Aren’t you glad you responded to it when you heard it? Why not be God’s mouthpiece to share it with someone else today, or tomorrow, or sometime this week, and allow the Holy Spirit to draw them into the life-transforming journey – following Christ?
Traveling all day back from San Diego… Didn’t get to do “coffee with the Lord” until after I got back tonight… Part of my Bible reading though included Matthew 4:1-11 – The temptation of Jesus. This reflection came to mind…
I know I may have Muslim friends and others that have a problem with it, but when God Himself says something, who am I to argue with it? When Jesus was baptized by John in the wilderness, “When He came up out of the water, behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, WITH WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED!” (Matthew 3:17)
