Jesus Calling
Archdeacon John Motis
As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake-for they were fishermen. And, He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As He went from there, He saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee and his brother, John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-22
We just heard Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James and John. He was calling them from something that they were very familiar with. He was calling them away from what had been the only life they knew and what appeared to be their life. They dropped everything and followed Him. My, what faith! Guts? All we know from scripture is that they were fishermen, living day after day in their profession. It doesn’t tell us if they had a passion for anything different than the only thing they knew, fishing.
What we do know is that Jesus had a plan for them.
And I’m pretty sure that they didn’t know who it was that was calling them, and they certainly didn’t know where it would lead! Many times, I have wondered how and why did they chose to follow Him? I will admit, I have wondered many times what my response would have been.
Our habits and our routines shape our days, and then our days shape our lives. Without a whole lot of thought, we can settle into routines that keep us stagnant for decades.
I don’t think that there is anything wrong with staying put if you’ve found your passion. However, many of us have a dream tucked away inside of us, a dream that fear keeps us from pursuing.
Our ultimate purpose is not simply to do something meaningful, but to respond to God Himself. He is the one who calls us into relationship and mission. So, what is stopping us from responding to the nudge?
We fear that we don’t have the skills or resources to see the project through. Sometimes it’s because we don’t have the financial resources or stability, or guts. We tell ourselves that there are other people doing it. Maybe, the world doesn’t need another.
Do you know that if we only do what we’re familiar with, we might miss what we’ve been made for? Calling is for everyone-Not just pastors or missionaries; every Christian has a calling. The same God that saved you is the same God that is calling you.
What are the things in your world that break your heart? Do you see the injustices? What are the things that you see going around you that you feel unequipped or inadequate to deal with? Where is that place that you are resisting, or are even hesitant to go? Who are the people in your community that your church isn’t reaching? Why?
God didn’t put those passions inside of you just to give you material for your daydreams. He gave them to you because your gifts and personality uniquely qualify you to do the things God created you to do. He is calling you! He is calling all of us.
Jesus is calling us to bring the church that He loves to the people that He loves!
Back in 2009, I attended a Cursillo Weekend. Those of you that have been on a weekend know that there is an opportunity to speak with the Chaplain on Saturday afternoon. In God’s providence Fr. Tom Seitz was the weekend Chaplain. Tom was quite aware of my involvement in the community and my business. I had been a lay reader, LEM, JR and SR Warden. He also knew that I had been trying to figure out the feeling of incompleteness that I had been struggling with. When I told him that I had been feeling that God was calling me to something, Fr Tom’s immediate response was, “you need to be a deacon.” He also said, “I have known it for a long time.”
Several times, I had even picked up a brochure, at the Diocesan Convention. I had wondered about the diaconate many times for well over 10 years. Always assuming that there was no possible way for me to make such a commitment. Never did I consider; that it was God calling me.
As I grew in my faith everything changed, even my understanding of Chemical Containers. The defining moment was when I realized that my business wasn’t about the money! It never was. Then, the biggest revelation of all, “It wasn’t even my business.” It was God’s. He gave me the business, and my ministry, my platform to reach people and share the hope that directs my life.
Then, He Blessed it! Because of its success, I was granted the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. All my concerns back at the beginning of my diaconal journey about time, focus and money were resolved. My diaconal ministry wasn’t a distraction to my business; it was God’s call on my life.
2 years ago, we celebrated our 40th anniversary at Camp Wingmann. On that day I looked into the faces of the 325 men, women, and children. As the tears ran down my face, I saw people that I love, not employees. I saw people that I had led to Christ. People that I had kept on the payroll, while they went through cancer treatment and medical issues, others that I had paid the rent, made a car payment, bought groceries, paid the entry for little league, even paid for funerals for their loved ones. I had officiated funerals for parents, wives, and sometimes their children. People that I cried with, prayed with and love.
Through God’s grace, goodness, blessing and trust, Laura and I have been able to support many groups with our time and our resources. Groups that are touching and changing people’s lives. These are the hands and feet of Christ in our community, including: Care Center, Idols Aside, Refuge on the Ridge, FCA, Camp Wingmann, Moody Radio, Warner University and too many more to list.
First among these is the Church of the Good Shepherd. Many of my family’s ashes are in our memorial garden, along with many people that I care deeply about. I expect that my ashes will be there as well.
Here is the coolest part: Laura and I aren’t spending our money, using our resources, or our time for any of these things!
Why? Because it’s all Gods!
Sometimes, we think that when we give God His 10 percent (the required amount) then the rest is ours to spend as we wish. The truth is when we realize that it all belongs to God and we treat it that way, He will lead us to what we should do with everything. You see, giving releases the grip that money has on our lives. The same is true when we serve other people. Our tendency to be selfish is released as well.
Every morning, we wake up, wash our faces, and often look in the mirror. We see a familiar reflection - the person we’ve known our whole life. That reflection shows our age, our imperfections, and perhaps our pride. But here’s the sobering truth: the person I’m seeing in the mirror is not the Lord of my life. When I try to enthrone the reflection as lord-living as if I’m in control, as if life is mine to manage-I quickly discover chaos, pain, and loneliness. Stewardship collapses when I self-rule. But when Christ is Lord, everything comes into proper order.
You see, the person in the mirror cannot save me and my life doesn’t even belong to that reflection in the mirror. Psalm 24:1 “Nothing I see in the mirror truly belongs to me: life, breath, talents, possessions are His.” A steward manages what belongs to another. My body, my money, my time, even my children – they are entrusted to me by the Lord, and they are not mine. All given to me by grace. I didn’t do anything to earn any of it.
In our Gospel story this morning we see 10 Lepers all healed by Jesus. Their disease made them unclean and total outcasts in society. We assume that all 10 went to show the priests, because in going they were healed. However, only one returned to give thanks and 9 went somewhere. Where we don’t know. Do you suppose they thought, “well that worked, didn’t it, or perhaps entitlement, “I certainly deserved that.” Do you suppose they thought that the Samaritan should go back and give thanks, since he is a foreigner and not one of us, he is the least worthy of healing?
When Jesus healed, there was much more going than physical healing. He gave those whom he healed much more: He gave them their name back, He gave them their place back, He gave them their home back!
Jesus used the one that returned as an example of living a life of faith and thankfulness. To have faith is to live it, and to live it is to give thanks. It is in living a life of gratitude that constitutes living a life of faith. This is the sort of faith that made this man of Samaria truly and deeply well. All 10 were given a gift of healing an act of tremendous grace. Only one showed his thankfulness. When I read this is I sometimes think that Jesus should have given the leprosy back to the nine. But that is not how it works. Probably a good thing when I consider my own behavior. I find myself a little self-righteous at times. Don’t we want to claim that our successes and accomplishments are all our own? Self-made? Just take note of all the self-help books out there. Forgetting that all is from God. How we respond to God’s grace is our choice. You see, when we practice gratitude intentionally it changes our individual life. It changes our congregation as well. When Christians practice gratitude, they come to worship not just to get something out of it, “but to give thanks and praise to God.” Stewardship is transformed from fundraising to the glad gratitude of joyful givers. The mission of the church changes from ethical duty to the work of grateful hands and hearts. Prayer includes not only our own intercessions and supplications, but also our thanksgivings at the table.
One of my favorite quotations is one attributed to several authors, “The two most important days of your life are: the day that you are born and the day that you discover why.”
I believe that when we discover our “Why”, our lives will have meaning and value. If I’m not careful, I think sometimes that God created me because He somehow needed me. Like, He couldn’t do it without me. Not hardly!
Instead, I must remind myself, it all begins with grace: When I live knowing that everything I have-including health, breath, salvation-is a gift from God. Entirely undeserved and unearned. “A gift” My response must be one of gratitude and thankfulness. To me, it’s intentional, in a way it’s like taking the time to sit down and write a handwritten thank you note. How often do you do it?
Our response should be my “why” that is to live a life as a steward of God’s grace. Making Him known in all our relationships, sharing His grace. In our families, Good Shepherd, this community, our work and with the people we encounter in our life. Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How? Sharing everything that He has entrusted to us to steward.
Because the Gospel changes everything: Our Standing with God, Our Identity, Our Security, Our Purpose, Our Relationships, Our Values, Our Work, Our suffering, Our Freedom, Our Peace, Our Joy, Our Trajectory, Our Community, Our Generosity, Our Priorities, Our Vision and Our Desitny.
Jesus calls each of us, just like the He called the Disciples. In responding to that call, their lives were changed beyond anything that they could have imagined. They received a gift that is beyond comparison, they walked with the Messiah.
We are here in creation at this moment in time for a purpose. All our gifts are part of that purpose. We are to live thankfully, living lives filled with His grace and truth.
Josh Edwards: A couple weeks ago, I attended a middle school cross country meet. I had a conversation with Josh Edwards (Babson Park Elementary Coach). We spoke about retirement. He asked about me, which I responded that I probably never will. Then he shared that he looked forward to retirement so that he could do something meaningful in his life. Like a mission trip or something like that. I told him that he was already doing something meaningful. The time that he spent with all the kids was very meaningful. He was doing God’s work right where he was. Every single day. God has placed him right where he belonged.
Just like the “City placed on a Hill” Strategically placed, Gifted and Called! Perfectly, placed at this moment in God’s creation…
Amen.