The Call
Many people I meet overseas talk about this. Many who are still at home talk about it, too, to excuse their presence "at home", and the obstacles stopping them to head off to follow their Call. So much guilt seems to accompany a Call, and so much mystery. How did you get yours? Can I get mine the same, with the same depth of conviction? Let me share a bit about the Call which has three stages: the one you hear, the one you accept, and the one at which point you act.
Something that stands out about Jesus is that he loved those who were following him. John 20 tells us that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he rose from the dead... but then disappeared. And then in John 21, when it seemed nothing more was happening, they decided to go back to fishing. WHAT? In today's mission culture, you never turn back to what you left to follow the call. It's always "onward and forward". The ones who can't hack it go home, disappointed, discouraged, and dare I say, judged. But you know, when Jesus appeared on that shore, he didn't give the disciples heck. He actually gave them advice on how to do what they were doing better, when he said to toss the nets to the starboard side. They then recognized him, and went to him.
Now, this post was originally going to be about the Call being Jesus' declaration of love to each of us. The first time we hear that, we can hardly believe it. It takes years sometimes to really accept that. The second time we hear it, it has taken root in our hearts and we feel confident and stable, and naysayers and mockers don't really sway us, not even the Christian ones. But it's the third time we heard it that something changes, and we move from surprise, to acceptance, to action. How can one NOT respond when the reality of Jesus' loving you really hits you?
In the story above, after the disciples come ashore, Jesus tells us, via his discussion with Peter, that he still loves us. But he expresses it by asking Peter if Peter loves Jesus. Two times he asks, and two times Peter says he does. But it's the third time, when the emotion and conviction takes root in Peter's heart - of course I love you. You know, if you are gonna lie, you usually don't lie three times. You just lie once. When you mean something, it's the third time when the affirmation galvanizes you to action. "OF COURSE I love Jesus" means I am ready to act on it. And it was only after the third time that Jesus completed The Call - feed my sheep.
Now, he didn't say explicitly, "go overseas", but to use a sheep image with a fisherman is pretty clear that Jesus wasn't saying, "Go back to the life you've been living, going to church, hosting bible studies, trying not to sin or lust or overeat, aim for your work promotion, build that BBQ station in your backyard, and just wait until I come back." No. The Call is not Jesus telling you to do something. The Call is a realization and comprehension of the love involved that you just can't not give your whole life back to God to use however. The specifics come later (or maybe sooner). China. Kazaks. Central Asia. France. Germany. Thailand.], and ...
So, what has been my Call? My Call has been hearing Jesus tell me, "I love you". And then me giving my whole self back. The details are secondary.
