When He Calls Us
When He Calls Us
“Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers ... He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-20
They did not ask, “Is it easy? Does it pay well? Will our future be assured?” They immediately left their work and followed Jesus. It is encouraging to see that Christ’s chosen disciples were ordinary men who had to work for their living. He did not choose a band of rich or learned followers as the examples for us to follow, but men in humble walks of life. Christ can make use of simple and humble souls, as well as others, when their lives are fully yielded for His service.
Christ does not set before us some stupendous task requiring great talent, much money or social influence when He asks us to become His disciples. The test of our love for Him is within the ability of the poorest and the weakest. His sheep and lambs are all around us. All we have to do is give what we can of our time, talent, strength and affection to serve and feed them.
If Christ has the first place in our lives the rest becomes easy. We are then glad to give rather than take, because we know it pleases Him. We find it no hardship to serve others, because we are really serving Him. The person who is always giving, spending, sympathizing and loving for Christ’s sake cannot help being attractive, because those who are being helped will see beyond the servant to his Lord.
No greater honor and joy can come to Christ’s disciples than to be used by Him to reflect His image, even though faintly and imperfectly. But to be useful when He calls us, our lives must be consumed by a love that is greater than anything this world can offer.
By E. G. Greenslade