Jesus Christ is calling men and women today as He did two thousand years ago. He issues three kinds of calls: the general call, the discipleship call, and the special call.
His general call is voiced in “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). That call has to do with the burden of sin, and it is issued to everyone. Once a person responds to this call and receives Jesus Christ as his sin-bearer, the problem of sin and its responsibility is forever settled.
The discipleship call is expressed in Jesus’ words to the fishermen beside the Sea of Galilee, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). That call has to do with the ownership of rights, and it is addressed only to those who have responded to the first call. Next to the problem of sin, the problem of rights will be my most grievous. Here the battle may be fiercer and the struggle longer. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ insists that all Christians enroll as quickly as possible as His disciples. Sometimes the enrollment takes place simultaneously with conversion, sometimes it takes months or years longer, depending upon my understanding of Christ’s claims and the tenacity of my will. To be a disciple means that I resign from the right to own myself, I surrender my personal sovereignty to Jesus Christ. From then on, He is my Commander and I am under His orders.
How difficult this decision is! Jesus Christ taught thousands and healed hundreds; yet, how many became His disciples? How many Christians are there today who are disciples? God help me to say, “Count me!” Help me to say with that loving servant who received the piercing of the ear, “I love my master … I will not go out free” (Exodus 21:2–5, KJV).
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Daily with the King 