God doesn’t change
all our careers, He merely changes our professions. Where once we professed
to be a lawyer who happened to be a Christian, we now profess to be a Christian
who happens to be a lawyer. The difference may sound subtle, but it’s profound
in its implication. Eventually our career does nothing more than make our calling
possible.
The consequence
of following Jesus …
is to spend time
with Him, personally. We can’t follow Him if we don’t spend time with Him.
When Jesus responded to the request of the ruler to heal his daughter, “Jesus
got up and went . . . and so did His disciples.” While they may not have known
where they were going, they were privileged to go with Jesus, wherever that
was.
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In Matthew’s gospel
we see the disciples with Jesus, learning to pray (sermon on the mount), learning
to listen (mount of transfiguration), learning to mourn (garden of Gethsemane),
learning to obey (mount Calvary). Then, when He’s ready to depart, they are
ready to go (great commission).
When we spend
time with Jesus, learning what life is supposed to be like, it prepares us for
the greatest consequence of being with Him, that of going for Him.
God’s call is consistent;
His call always comes with consequences. Abraham heard a call
that included purpose (be a blessing) and promise (be blessed) (Gen. 12:1-9).
His call story was repeated in the New Testament (Romans 4:13-25) with purpose
(righteousness) and promise (offspring). His call comes to us with purpose
(go for me) and promise (I will be with you).
_________________________
Sermon brief provided by: Chuck Sackett, professor of preaching at Lincoln
Christian Seminary in Lincoln, IL; and David N. Mosser, Pastor of First United
Methodist Church in Arlington, TX.