If you work for a company or in Govt. Job, there is a process to hire a person for a job. First they publish the requirements for the job with Basic Education qualification that’s needed, skills that are needed (Tech skills / Soft Skills), “Job Description” detailing what’s expected out of this job, communication expectations, work timing expectations etc.. After that there is screening / multiple levels of interview finally shortlist probable who are qualified. One final round before the person is taken to the company, they do a Background check to see how his / her past record is and finally taken to a company for the position.
Comparing this with worldly view of choosing a person vs. How Jesus choose/ identifies his Disciples is a total contrast, we can learn a great deal, from this experience on this. Read this before we go further
'As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. ' Matthew 4:18-22
If you read here Jesus chose the first - four disciple’s (Peter / Andrew, James / John) . There are three things we should learn from this incident
God’s call was Unexpected
For Peter / Andrew - We read here they were casting the net into the lake
'As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen
For James / John - We read here they were preparing their nets
he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets
Jesus usually calls people as they are busy doing something that they would be doing normally, Jesus called the disciples as they were casting a net into the sea or mending their nets.
They weren't anticipating anything different. And then, suddenly, Jesus came and called them - "Come, follow me" and away they went.
He did not give a long convincing thing like if you do this then I will get you this etc,. All he said was “Come, follow me”
Look thru the Bible, there are other similar calling that’s happened to other great leaders
Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock.
Saul was looking for his father’s donkeys.
David was keeping his father’s sheep.
Matthew was working at the tax collector’s table.
"Follow Me . . ." If He calls, don't delay. Follow Him!
Lessons we should learn
If the “Follow Me” call comes to us, In the times we live we want to do background check before we jump in, the Background check we do is - will I have a good career, good income, will I have hardships, etc… I am not saying this background check is wrong.
Don’t do background check when the calling is from Jesus “Just follow his orders” that’s what the fisherman did, they just obeyed immediately “At once they left their nets and followed him”
Remember he will never take you to a bad road and leave in the middle of the road, he is your father he knows what he wants from you and knows how to take care of you
No looking back on the path once you follow him, all the four were his great disciples they did not let go to come back and do the fishing what they did earlier.
Jesus Knows the Job description
Jesus knows the job description, he knows the qualifications on what he expects vs. what he wants from the four disciples
Notice that when Jesus called them, He didn't call them to do something radically different from what they were already doing.
They were fisherman – they only knew how to catch fish! Jesus called them to still be fishers - but now to be fishers of men. And He taught them how to be men-fishers through on-the-job training. ““Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Very often, when Jesus calls someone, He calls them to do what, in his providence, they'd already been trained and experienced to do - but he now sanctifies their training and experience and calls them to do that same sort of work for a higher and more eternal end.
Lessons we should learn
Don’t rely on your strengths as you walk into God’s calling, rely on God, depend on him.
He is the world’s best teacher, he knows everything, he will teach you to put the trust in him
The calling from Jesus may ask you to do something that may be full time work for him or part time. for many he may choose you to do what you do at work and still ask to serve him in some form, it’s purely a calling that Jesus decides, we have no choice on his calling
Don’t worry to do the background check etc. in the calling to see if it will work out, this may not be my strength for ministry or any work that Jesus wants you to do.
You can look at my life as a testimony for this, I continue my job in IT and do this writing ministry, I feel the blessing every day, my spiritual life has changed ever since I started doing this for Jesus. When I started to write these blogs I did not know how to write, I totally depended on Him, every week he tells me what to write, I don’t know what I should write until that Sunday comes. Jesus has given me the burden to write 2 blog writings every week one in English and another in Tamil. Look at the way he is using me. My Tamil Language mark is 35/100 in 10th standard, “just pass” for academic reasons - I am very poor in my Tamil language skills. Today I write Tamil blog with the aid of my IT tech skills and God did not stop there, he showed favour to get help from 2 people Mrs Brinda and Mrs Bharathi who still do correct my Tamil language mistakes before it gets published in Tamil Blog every week, Both Mrs. Brinda and Mrs. Bharathi are doing their part to spread the message. Every week they are eager to proofread the draft work that I send to them. God’s ways are wonderful, he works in mighty ways that we do not know, he connected to people whom I never thought they can help me. God knows your strengths than what you may know about yourself. If God can use people like me, he can use anyone. Only thing that’s expected is surrender and ask him to lead you
God honours every small work you do for him. Don’t assume that it’s a small work or don’t think whether you can do it or will this be enough for his work. Start small. God will lead you to bigger things. Surrender to his will.
God knows how to use you, you don’t worry on how God will use you after his calling, it’s his problem.
God’s Wisdom differs from world
God did not do interview after interview like we do today, he chose fisherman for this work. For a minute think about this, He knows once he goes back from the world ,the disciples play a pivotal role in taking the gospel to all part of the world to get to his eternal plans. But he chooses Fisherman for this work, with no background nor experience.
Notice that He didn't call what the world would consider "experts", or "astute theologians", or "ministry professionals" or “Intellects” or “doctorate” to be His helpers. That would be the world's way of doing things.
Instead, He meekly called the meek to His work, and trained them Himself. These four men became the closest disciples to Jesus - the "inner circle" of His Twelve. Two of them (James and John) were used by the Holy Spirit to write some of the most profound works of sacred literature known to man. They were fishermen that God used to change the world.
Lessons we should learn
Trust in God’s wisdom instead of relying on human wisdom, our eyes cannot see even after what’s there beyond 10 ft, Jesus can see what’s there in front us till our life end, Rely on the wisdom of God thru his Holy Spirit. Paul writes it very well
'Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” ; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” ' 1 Corinthians 3:18-20
Read this and always consider yourself a fool when you come to God. Rely on his wisdom.
Dependent on him, he will guide you to every step with his wisdom, remember he is a teacher he teaches us every step, all the disciples learned from him every day, he knows his students grade and their skills / strengths / weakness etc. and where he is going to take you
Always remember you did not choose Jesus, He chose you. The word says that
'You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 'John 15:16
The one who has chosen you and asked you to “Follow me” knows what to do as the word says
'However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— “ 1 Corinthians 2:9
Comments