Disciples Path: Week 4: Day 2 – You’re Being Called Out

1 Peter 2:9-10, The Message

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

                Imagine this scenario.  You are swimming in the ocean and you get pulled away by the current.  You aren’t the best swimmer, so pretty quickly, you find yourself in trouble.  A nearby swimmer notices your distress and because they are a strong swimmer and have had some training in helping, they swim out to you and bring you top safety.  How thankful would you be to that “good Samaritan.” 

                Now, imagine yourself many months later.  Because of your brush with danger, you get some swimming lessons and become a strong swimmer yourself.  You find yourself swimming in the ocean again, this time much more confidently.  All of a sudden, you notice another swimmer in the same danger you were in just months ago.  What do you do?  My guess is that most of us would make an effort to help the person to safety in the same way our rescuer did for us.  Most would try to help even if they hadn’t had the close call in their past. 

                This is an excellent way to look at serving others as part of those who follow Jesus.  Those of us who have found the physical, emotional, and spiritual safety of the church now have the opportunity to help others do the same.  It seems like a natural progression.  We have been helped, so we express our gratitude by helping others.  Further, our leader Jesus calls us do that.  For each of us, our service looks different because we have different life experiences, gifts, and abilities (we’ll talk more about this tomorrow).  But we are all called out to be helpers of those who are in need and/or in danger.  You and I are “called out” by God to help.  This should be natural.

                However, in too many cases, this natural progression doesn’t happen.  There are too many people who have been “helped to safety” in the church who simply spend their lives enjoying the safety while ignoring being called by God to serve the mission.  It is the equivalent of being saved from drowning and then looking the other way when others face the same fate.   This is unnatural and furthermore, it is disobedience to God. 

Questions:  How would you describe the “safety” you have found in Jesus and His church?  What is your role in helping others find the same help?

Song:  Rescue the Perishing – Acapeldridge