Monday 04 June 2012

Background

I have often wondered about the families that the disciples leftat home when Jesus called them to leave their nets and follow him.We know that Peter at least had a mother-in-law, so he clearly hada wife and family who would be left when the three years offollowing began: how did they feel? We can't, of course, tell.However, in this passage Jesus seems to be saying that anyone whowants to be one of his followers has to do just that, leaveeverything behind to undertake his work.

I knew an elderly woman some years ago in a church inLincolnshire, who travelled to church in a motorised wheelchair butshe had a wonderful story to tell. One Sunday some years before sheheard a speaker who had been a sister working with Mother Theresain India, and put out a challenge to anyone with nursing experienceto seek God's guidance as to whether they were being called to asimilar ministry to hers. The woman concerned went home and prayedhard about what she had heard. She was no longer young, she had ahusband at home, her family had grown and flown, and she wasconvinced that she was called to go. She went to Calcutta andworked the streets in that project for almost two years beforereturning home. Her husband was happy to allow her to go and joyfulon her return. But the people in the church were less than happy:they questioned her motives, they told her it was wrong to havegone, and she was left very unhappy by the criticism shereceived.

She had followed to the letter those words from verses 26 and 27.She had left the comfort of her home, and the love of her family toserve Jesus. And just as I suspect was the case with the disciples,she earned not only kudos but criticism as well.

To Ponder

How would you have reacted to the story of myfriend in Lincolnshire?

What would you be prepared to give up forJesus?

How can you support others you know to respond toGod's call?