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Feb 09, 2023 18:30pm

Will you Answer the Call?

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I could feel the vibration of my phone as it buzzed beside me. I lifted the phone and looked at the screen. I could see who it was, thanks to caller ID, but would I answer?

See, I knew this person was calling because they needed help with something. I could think of a hundred excuses of things I could be doing other than helping them. I was busy. Well actually, at that moment, I wasn’t busy. I was sitting in the chair. In fact, I really hadn’t been busy all day. But I had things I needed to be doing. If I answered and then decided to act, I knew what would happen next… I’d be doing it more and more. Was I willing for this to cut into my personal time? Did I really want to get involved?

Should I answer the call?

“And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.” (Mark 3:13-19)

12 men. Ordinary guys that had no special qualities, awards, achievements, or political standing. Nothing remarkable stood out about any of these men.

Yet they received a call.

Throughout the gospels of Matthew, Luke and John, other accounts that were similar to Mark, we see more about the lives of these men. We learn their professions, their attitudes, their doubts and fears, but here we see one thing: they were all called.

They had to make a choice whether or not to answer. Jesus even told them how important it is to count the cost of following Him. So, what would they be giving up? What would they be walking into? What were they devoting their lives to?

Some debated, some questioned, others just dropped everything and followed Him. Jesus wasn’t searching for the perfect man. He was looking for the willing heart.

Is your heart willing? Jesus might be calling to your heart today to follow Him in salvation. Will you answer? You are struggling with finding peace and you’re realizing that your sin is greater than you can work out, fix or get rid of. Only Jesus can save you. But will you answer that call?

Or maybe He’s calling you to a deeper walk with Him. You’ve already surrendered your life and asked Him to save you. But now, He’s calling you to a specific work or place. Maybe it’s discipleship, or serving in your church, or in mission. Will you answer?

Forget the excuses. Remember, He’s not looking for the most qualified. He will take care of that. He’s looking for a willing heart.

Are you willing?

Take that next step and answer the call of Jesus Christ. You will never regret it!