Followers of the King

The calling of Christ's first followers is a perfect picture of grace (Mark 1:16-20). Jesus did not go to the rabbinical schools to find those qualified to be His followers. No, Jesus went to the shores of the Sea of Galilee and found fishermen in the midst of their labors. But Jesus didn't call these men in a vacuum. If you have read the first chapter of John you know that Peter, Andrew, James, and John have already met the Savior and put their faith in Him. This is not a call to salvation. This call is to service. Why did Jesus call these men and not others? I think the answer is found in 1 Corinthians where Paul says: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).” In the same way that we are called to salvation, we are called to serve our King. Every Christian is called to serve Christ our King.


For instance, Jesus calls you to His service by His grace. We cannot be called into the King's service, but by His grace. There's none of us that are qualified to serve our Lord. Not only are we worthy of rejection, we are worthy of execution. But, just as “...by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God... (Ephesian 2:8)”, it is by God's grace that we are called to serve our Lord and King. Christ has chosen the ordinary to do extraordinary things.  Although some, like Paul, were called with multiple abilities, most are like Peter who was basically an uneducated fisherman. Nothing much is expected of ordinary people by those around them, but Christ expects and demands much from them. We should expect much from ourselves in our service to our Lord and King.


Another thing that you need to know is that Jesus calls you to His service to be a demonstration of His grace. “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7).” Early Christians were for the most part poor, uneducated, and even slaves, but by the grace of God they spiritually conquered the Roman world in three hundred years. And they did this without riots, rebellion, or war. In fact, the spread of Christianity took place as the result of almost constant persecution. The first great expansion of Christianity occurred as a result of the persecution by the hand of Saul of Tarsus. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word (Acts 8:4).” These were ordinary people, because the apostles remained in Jerusalem. Such is the amazing grace of God in calling us to service.


The most important reason that Jesus calls you to His service is to glorify God. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).” You may wait on tables like the first deacons. Or, you may serve God by being a stay at home mother who by example and instruction lead her children to the knowledge of Christ. For each of us the ultimate goal is that God should be glorified in the proclamation of the gospel to this generation. “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11).”


Each and every believer is a disciple that is called and ordained to serve. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).” Lets follow the example of Paul: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10).”