Are You Listening?

Here on the compound, I suspect the other households hear me calling to Mister Bill at times. He doesn't hear well, which means I must call his name louder. My children have always laughed at my two-syllable call ... "Bee-ull." In the Book of John as Jesus began His ministry, one of the first things He did was "call" disciples - men who would walk with Him day-by-day. We read His call - it was simple and clear, "Come ... follow Me" (John 1:39, 43). The word "follow" is used frequently on social media - we follow news feeds, blogs, etc. What does it mean, however, to follow Jesus? The Greek word translates "to join or side with, to be united with," which sounds anything but casual. Based on my own walk with Jesus, I fear many followers of Jesus are far too casual about it. Yet we read in Scripture, those to whom Jesus said "come ... follow Me" left ceased all other things, leaving their family and their professions in order to be joined with The Christ. Yes, that may seem extreme but it represents the impact of His call and the depth of the response. While Jesus' call to His children may not include leaving home, friends, family, careers, it surely means a laying aside of other things that we are too closely knit (joined and united). Jesus still calls today: His voice is heard in His Word, through prayer and meditation and through The Holy Spirit. The big question and one only I can answer, only you can answer ... are you listening?