Thought for Today
1 Kings 19:19 So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. 20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you."
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long
Luke 12:20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'
Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
“When do we see such willingness to drop everything to follow the one who calls? What would it take for us to follow such an unexpected calling?” (These Days, June 26, 2025)
I have to admit a personal interest in the question of immediately responding to a call, to dropping everything and following. I was 58 when I heard God’s call to ministry. I took 10 years to finish seminary and another 3 years before I accepted a call to a pulpit. I sometimes wonder whether I was the fool in the Parable of the Rich Man or the psalmist’s patient one waiting.
Ours is generally a culture if immediate action. “He who hesitates is lost.” “Actions speak louder than words.” Maybe even, “Idle hands are the devil’s playground.” I was taught as a young boy that patience is a virtue; however, I was never allowed to use patience as an excuse for not doing my chores.
So, which is it? Are we getting mixed messages from scripture, society and life in general? Is Elisha to be our example? Should we listen to the Parable of the Rich Man? Was I a fool to take so long to answer God’s call? That last one is totally rhetorical! I am not soliciting comments about any of my foolishness.
Obviously, we are not receiving mixed messages from scripture. It only seems so at times because of our proclivity for taking verses and pericopes out of context, isolating them from their background and environment. Jesus’ words to that young man to “Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me" only came after the conversation in vss. 20-21. That young man knew, understood and followed God’s commandments. He was a seeker, already familiar with and following the Law.
There are numerous examples in the Bible. David was not immediately crowned king following his anointment by Samule. Daivd served an ‘internship’ as King Saul’s armor bearer, his court musician and as one of his military leaders.
Paul had to literally be blinded by the light and led to Ananias to be healed and taught, to be introduced into what it meant to be a follower of the one whom Saul was persecuting.
The 12 disciples did not immediately become miracle workers following their call by Jesus. They did not immediately set out to be missionaries, spreading the gospel throughout the world. The gospels and the Acts of the Apostles reveal to us that even after following Jesus throughout his earthly ministry for what most scholars believe was 3 years, they still did not fully understand. It was not until after the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Ascension and Pentecost that their lives were sufficiently transformed for them to become leaders of what has now become Christendom.
Part of the lesson of the Parable of the Sower is in looking at the various places where the seed landed. “Mark 4:8 Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." Sometimes that ground has to be made arable in advance. Sometimes it must be cleared, plowed and fertilized before the crops can flourish. Often that takes time. Faithful Christian response and stewardship is in knowing when to first prepare the soil and when to plant the crop. The Holy Spirit helps us discern the right time.
Stay safe, listen to the Spirit, trust God,
Pastor Ray