WFW - Jesus Calls Whom He Desires

September 10, 2008

"Here was sovereignty. Impatient spirits may fret and fume, because they are not called to the highest places in the ministry; but reader be it thine to rejoice that Jesus calleth whom He wills. If He shall leave me to be a doorkeeper in His house, I will cheerfully bless Him for His grace in permitting me to do anything in His service. The call of Christ's servants comes from above. Jesus stands on the mountain, evermore above the world in holiness, earnestness, love and power. Those whom He calls must go up the mountain to Him, they must seek to rise to His level by living in constant communion with Him. They may not be able to mount to classic honours, or attain scholastic eminence, but they must like Moses go up into the mount of God and have familiar intercourse with the unseen God, or they will never be fitted to proclaim the Gospel of peace. Jesus went apart to hold high fellowship with the Father, and we must enter into the same divine companionship if we would bless our fellow-men. No wonder that the apostles were clothed with power when they came down fresh from the mountain where Jesus was. This morning we must endeavour to ascend the mount of communion, that there we may be ordained to the life-work for which we are set apart. Let us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus."

~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
Mark 3:13, September 10

I was reminded of this very thing yesterday and again today during my quiet time. A dear, sweet sister in the Lord, whom I've never met in person, but dearly love said something in an email that blessed my heart in a way that she was completely unaware of. She wrote:

"I hope to call you in just a few minutes....I haven't had much time with the Lord, yet this morning so I felt it important I "call" Him first."

On the surface this statement doesn't seem so grand. But let me share with you why it is. You see, our precious sister was in the midst of battle when she wrote this. She was in much need of reprieve, rest and a kind word. But yet, instead of hastily and quickly searching this out from another human being, she went to the throne of God first...to be disciplined and refined, not to be comforted and reassured.

How often do we do this? I know I don't do it often enough. As a woman, I so often "need" to hear words of encouragement, of comfort, just a simple, "It's okay, I've been there . The Lord has brought me through it and will bring you through it as well. You're not alone." I'm not saying this is a bad thing, what I'm saying is that, like Mary of Bethany, our sister chose what was better (Luke 10:40-42).

Like Martha, I find myself so often, rushing about trying to do something for Jesus (i.e., something colossal: run a ministry, feed thousands, write a book, etc.), or looking to receive something from Jesus (i.e., blessings, comfort, etc.) when all He wants me to do is BE with Him, like Mary. I'm realizing that just being with Jesus automatically guarantees me all that I need (i.e., blessings, comfort, peace, etc.) and more than I could have ever asked of Him.

I'm always looking to do something "important", something I think will matter the most to God, much like Martha, instead of being overwhelmingly satisfied with being in His awesome presence....even if it's as a simple doorkeeper.

Have you BEEN with Jesus today FIRST? If so, was your time with Him a monologue as you laid out all your request and anxieties, or was it a dialogue where He spent time listening to you and you spent time listening to Him?

If you haven't had a dialogue with Christ today, I've got GREAT news for you...THE DAY AIN'T OVER! So get off of here and go up to the mountain where He's called you, so that He may tell you "great and hidden things that you did not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)

When you're done, go visit our precious sister Amydeanne at The 160 Acre Woods for more "filling" from the Word!