"WORTHY OF GOD'S CALLING"

"And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." Luke 6:13

He lived in Capernaum and worked for the Romans. It was taken for granted that he over-charged the locals on their taxes. Not exactly the kind of man we would expect Jesus to choose to do His work!

Matthew sat at his tax collector's booth when Jesus walked by. "Follow me," Jesus commanded, right out of the blue. And Matthew got up and followed Jesus (Matthew 9:9). The call of Jesus changed Matthew. He never returned to his booth or profession. Starting right there and then, he followed Jesus and spent the rest of his life spreading the Gospel of God's love.

"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease" (Matthew 10:1). "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 10:5,6

These men were called upon to go out, not as forerunners but as after-runners of Jesus. Our Lord gave them power to perform miracles ~ this was their credential. Their title is changed from disciple (learner) to apostle (delegate). They were instructed to go out only to the lost sheep of Israel. Now, if we were going to take our instructions from Chapter 10 of Matthew for our personal ministry, we would have to limit ourselves to the nation Israel. Obviously, these verses do not contain our called commission.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

This is the commission that calls us today! This is not only given to a corporate body ~ to the church as a body; it is not a corporate commission. This is a very personal command to each believer ~ personally, privately. This was given to these men even before the Holy Spirit had come and formed the church. It is a direct command for us
today! It is our business to get the Word of God out to the World ~ it is our calling!

"But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Matthew 9:13

Matthew is at it again, quoting Hosea 6:6 from the Old Testament. When Jesus said, "For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," He could have included the Pharisees, because they were sinners. In fact, all of us are included ~ "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." Ephesians 4:1

Paul is a "prisoner of the Lord." He is a prisoner because of his position in Christ. Isn't it interesting that Paul can be seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus and can also be seated in a prison because he was a witness for Christ to the Gentiles? Paul says, I "beseech (or beg) you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." It is
not a command with fire and thunder; it is a gentle wooing of love. We are to "walk worthy" of our calling.

"Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2Thessalonians 2:13,14

"Chosen you to salvation." This so clearly taught in Romans 8! "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Dr. R.A. Torrey used to say that this verse was a soft pillow for a tired heart. It surely is that! For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What should we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Summarizing this up ~ "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation." God chose us before we even got
here! Let us be worthy of His calling!

Application: God has called us through His Word and Baptism. He has heard our prayers and He answers with a simple "GO!" Our Lord is acutely conscious of souls who wait to hear the Gospel from us. Surely as He used Matthew, He can use us. He changes the hearts of the corrupt, strengthens those who are fearful, and speaks through the mouths of the shy. He has chosen us! He will radiate His glory through what we do and lead us to those who need to seek His Kingdom. Be Worthy of His Calling!

Today's Devotion: "Beloved, now are we he sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1John 3:2

God Bless You All as you grow in grace through the Spirit of God's calling.