Greetings again my Brethren. For the last few months we have been looking at the call of the apostles, but do you know you too are called as the Apostles were? Yes they have their special place in God’s good plan, but guess what so do you. Are the Apostles any more loved than you by God? No of course not. Is their salvation any better or deeper than yours? No of course not. The truth is God loves us all the same He is not a respecter of persons. We read this in the Book of Acts, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” (Acts 10:34) I am very glad that God’s love for us is not greater because of our abilities, talents, or even looks. God’s love for us is based on His love first. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us, but it was before the foundation of the world was laid. Brother John helps us here. In Revelation we read, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8) Christ died for us before the world was formed. Again John tells us “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) So too is our call to ministry. God had a purpose and a plan for our salvation and if this be true (which it is) then our call to ministry is God’s idea and His call for us to ministry is based on God’s desire for us to minister and our obedience in response to His call. Now here is where the rubber meets the road. In Mark we read, “And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.” (Mark 3:13) Here Jesus “called unto him whom he would” (Jesus did the selecting and calling not the apostles) and “they came unto him.” Jesus did the calling, but the apostles “came unto him” or responded to Jesus’ call. It amazes me how Jesus can call and people can reject His call. This happens all of the time. In church or any time when the Holy Spirit is moving (Jesus is calling), but people reject His call. There is a lot to be said about God’s longsuffering. But here in Mark the apostles responded to Jesus’ call and had an opportunity to walk, talk, and learn with Him. That is all God promises us when we answer His call. He does not promise us tomorrow, riches, fame, health, etc. all He promises us is He will never leave us or forsake us and if He is with us than we will have the opportunity to learn how to become like Him, the Father’s main goal in our lives. In Mark 3:14 we read the results of the obedience of the 12 apostles, even Judas. “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,” (Mark 3:14) Now I do not know for sure since I was not there, but I think there were many more people in the race to be apostles. We know there were more than 12 disciples. In Luke we read, “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” (Luke 10:1) That would make 82 disciples not just 12. The number is not really important, but what was important was their willingness to go forth and preach. They were called. They knew they were called. They wanted to be called and they went. That was the expected response from man and God. From man the expected response is to expect God to call us because He has THE plan and purpose for our lives. From God He expects man to answer His call in obedience and then go forth where and how he is sent. Here too is where the rubber meets the road.
Next month we will finish up looking at the call of the Apostles by looking at how they were divinely equipped and how they were sent forth. Can you hear Him now?
