You have a job. That is, a job where you earn an income. The income is traded for goods and services to keep your family fed, clothed, entertained. Maybe even a vacation now and then. You probably think about things other than work when you go home–or maybe even at times while you’re working. Sometimes you discuss the meaning of life with others at work. Sometimes you discuss sports or politics.
One day a guy comes by. You’ve know him, or something about him, for years. A strange guy with different gifts. Doesn’t have a full-time job. Doesn’t have a family to support even though he’s 30 years old. And he challenges you to leave your job and go along with him where he’ll teach you about life. So, what are you going to do? You go.
I’m studying Mark right now. Following Jesus’ trail. He has undoubtedly been studying for many years. You don’t become a teacher overnight. So one day he gets baptized and has a direct God experience. Then he goes to the wilderness to overcome the temptations that face him. Then he returns home and sets to work. In those days, teachers had followers. Actually, there is still some of that today–especially among PhD candidates in the sciences. Its not unheard of. So Jesus didn’t wait for followers to come. He needed an inner circle of people whom he could teach–not only intellectually, but also with how they lived their lives.
First he saw Simon and Andrew who were probably small businessmen. Owned a business, hired people, had a product for sale. Then he saw John and James. Same kind of thing. Except they were apparently well connected in Jerusalem. And Mark makes it sound so simple. Jesus walked up, said come with me, and they did. And over the course of the next three years these were his inner circle.
Have you been called? How did you answer? And when? Did you immediately feel the call, leave everything and go? Is it something you can do alongside your work? Will it become your work? Did you resist for a long time (many of us do that)?
If you haven’t been called, it’s probably because you haven’t been listening. Or you didn’t like what you heard. Because the call, when it comes, will force you to choose–how to live your life, how to relate to others, how to give up things you want in the service of what others need.
Faith Venture 
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