The Message from Sunday, February 6, 2021
Scripture Readings:
We Are All Called
Have you ever made a phone call and been put on call waiting? Most of us have. You hear a recorded voice that just repeats itself over and over and over again. Or the recording plays some type of music that quickly becomes annoying. You hear clicks and think you are being transferred to a live person, only to find you continue to be placed on hold. Most of us will agree that it can get pretty annoying, especially when you have been on hold for a long period of time. Yet, if our call is very important, rather than hang up, we remain on the line, persistent to get through so we can address the reason for our call. In much the same way, Our God is persistent with us, waiting for us to respond to God’s calling upon our lives.
As we look to today’s Old and New Testament readings, we may notice they have a few things in common. First both Isaiah and Simon Peter see God, yet Simon Peter is unaware of Jesus’s Divine nature in this encounter. The primary focus of Isaiah is on God, who he describes as being “seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filling the temple.” [1] The seraphim, which are angelic beings are present when Isaiah sees the Lord. And in Simon Peter’s encounter, he is focused on Jesus, even though there are other fishermen present with them.
In both Scripture readings, Isaiah and Simon Peter recognize their sinfulness. Isaiah cries out, “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” [2] He is in fear that he will die, for he has seen the Lord. And Simon Peter responds by falling down on his knees at our Lord Jesus’s feet saying, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” [3] But Jesus tells Peter, “Don’t be afraid”.[4] Repentant, both Isaiah and Simon Peter are forgiven, and pressed into service with our Lord God to become co-workers in fulfilling God’s purpose: in fulfilling God’s will. While both Isaiah and Simon Peter acknowledge their unworthiness, God encourages them, and each accepts God’s calling upon their lives, for the rest of their lives. Both are commissioned to share God’s message.
From these two Scripture readings we see that God uses ordinary people to do God’s work. In fact, as believers, we are all called by God to become co-workers with Christ in “summoning people to faith and nurturing them in the knowledge and love of God.” [5] Yet for each of us our calling comes to us in different ways. Think about what brought you to Christ? Was it an answered prayer in a desperate plea when you had nowhere else to turn? Was it a miracle you witnessed? Or was it someone who shared the Word of God with you. God is continually reaching out to all people, waiting for a response: waiting for us to answer God’s call. And our God is patient and persistent, even when we sometimes choose to put God on hold.
The Lord calls each of us in different ways, even while we are yet sinful creatures, even though we are weak, or afraid. And when we respond, we recognize our unworthiness. We become repentant, and by the merciful grace of God we receive forgiveness, though undeserving, because we are so loved by our Triune God.
Today, those of us who have come to know Jesus, know what God requires of us – to love God and to love one another. We are called to love our neighbor, and even our enemy. In following Jesus, the sphere of our daily lives become a blend of the sacred and the secular. Our Lord is ever present with us, helping us to live our lives striving for holiness. We are called to strive for righteousness and justice; and to have a love filled heart that treats others with kindness and caring, being empathic for those who are hurting.
Not much has changed since Christ walked upon this earth. Our world continues to be filled with poverty and inequality. Some lack food, or housing. Many on this earth lack medical care. And when we look around, we can see there are many other social ills.
As we become aware of the hurting that is all around us, we are called to respond to God’s calling upon our lives to become co-workers with Christ, in the here and now. While it is a necessity to seek and hold employment in order to live in this world, we as Christian are called to do more. In John Wesley’s sermon on “The Use of Money”, we are advised to “Earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.”
But giving can also go beyond the gifts we offer out of our financial earnings. When we give of ourselves: give of our time, and the work of our hands to help others, we often are giving all that we can. When we give from our hearts financially or in service, embracing others with love, our giving is pleasing to God. It is our engagement with others in “the ministry of word and deed” that makes life “livable, humane, and godly.” [6]
God is calling. God is calling all of us. For we each have unique God given gifts and talents to share. We are being called to serve God and neighbor. We are being called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and to spread the love of our Triune God which each person in whom we come into contact. Sometimes, it can be as easy as a kind word or even a smile – letting someone know that they are seen. Letting them know we care about them - blessing them with God's love through our simple act of kindness and sharing.
Do you hear God calling you? How will you respond to God's call? Often God reaches out to us through the quiet whispers and the silent nudges of the Holy Spirit giving us the same message over and over and over again until we heed the call. The question is, are we going to place God on hold, or will we answer his call and say yes Lord, Here I am, Lord, your faithful and willing servant. Amen.
[1] Isaiah 6:6, NIV
[2] Isaiah 6:5, NIV
[3] Luke 5:8, NIV
[4] Luke 5:10, NIV
[5] The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2016, (Nashville, TN: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2016), 56.
[6] Tokunboh Adeyemo, ed. African Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan,1984), 1240.
Works Cited:
The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2016, (Nashville, TN: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2016.
Adeyemo, Tokunboh (Editor). African Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan,1984.
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