The Call

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

For over 10 years, I look at this passage, and I know, this is my call.  These were the very words of Jesus calling me to follow Him.

I said yes.

Sometimes I get frustrated with God, and I question, "Why didn't you tell me it was going to be like this?"  Yes, from this passage I had the indication that following Jesus would not be easy, but many days it is easy to feel so defeated with my failures and the evil of the age.

The Holy Spirit emphasized recently something new about this call.

Jesus is the Bridegroom coming for a Bride.  And this is the all to forsake all others for the sake of Him.  It's an invitation to take His name and to bear His yoke.

And when I said yes, and when I continue to say yes over and over again, it moves His heart.  He declared His love and I chose to respond to Him.

The journey is not easy.  It is a denial of my flesh, a spiritually violent act, in the face of criticism for choosing Him, but my heart becomes more alive and more free as I ask for more grace to love and give myself wholeheartedly to Jesus.

Jesus knew me.  He knows me and He wants me.  He knows the weakness I feel.  He eager desires that I learn from Him.  He is humble and patient, demonstrating jealous love.  He knows when the temptation is there to tell Him I will only give myself to Him partially or when I don't have the desire follow Him in the moment, or how other relationships pull for my greatest allegiance and affections.  But each time I repent, I say yes again, it means everything to Him.

This is my call: I say yes.