Are all believers called to follow?
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Every Friday morning I am involved in a Men’s Bible Study; a small group of men (5-10) get together, and we get into the Word. We just started reading a new book by David Platt, “Radical”. Which discusses the Radical side of Christianity. This morning as we were discussing the first chapter, and the ideas that were set forth one of the men asked this question, “Is everyone who believs called to follow?” At first this sounds like an easy question to answer. Yes,!
As I thought more about it though, and I listened to what this man had to say the easy answer that I thought of became less evident. He discussed the idea that Jesus did not “force” everyone that believed to leave their current lifestyle, and follow Him. Not everyone was told as the rich, young ruler was to sell everything that they had and follow Him. Nor were all called like the Disciples to leave their life behind.
If you look at Scripture in its completeness, not everyone that believed in and trusted God were called to a foreign land away from their family, so the simple answer doesn’t seem to fit. As I thought more and more about this I came to the conclusion that Everyone who believes is not called to follow at least not in the sense that we generally think about it. The Bible says in I Corinthians 12, ” 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit ; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary ; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. A nd I show you a still more excellent way.”
As the Apostle Paul reminds us here not everyone is called to follow God to Zimbabwe, Africa, and not everyone is called to follow God to start a church. While we should praise God that some are we should never feel like we “missed the boat” because we are not doing this. God has placed a calling on your life, and that may be as a teacher, or an architect, or whatever. I believe the key is not to feel bad because you are not selling all your posessions, but to rejoice that you have posessions that can be used for God. No matter where you may be God can use you if you surrender to Him.
So, to come full circle my final answer to the question, “Is everyone who believes called to follow?” is a resounding ,YES!, with the inclusion that following Christ may not require the same steps for you as for someone else. I will end today with the challenge, Find out(ask God) where He is calling you. Go there, and you will find joy like you have never known!
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Father, I thank You for the calling that You have put on my life, and I ask that You would put an uneasiness in my heart until I am in the center of Your will following You in the calling for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Yes, You Can Ministry 