Jesus is Still Calling!

Jesus impacted lives immediately, and especially when He called them out by a new, not totally known name. An example is found in the calling of Simon Peter in John 1: ⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. ⁴¹ Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ” ⁴² Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). Simon was called Cephas by Jesus, and it seems Jesus not only named Peter by what His parents called Him but by what His new calling name was going to be, and by the way, Peter WAS a rock, even in his failings. Peter denied Jesus three times when he should have acknowledged his Savior, but that sin did not surpass the amount of grace Jesus gave Him immediately. Peter was of "good use" to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus called Peter, He also gave him a new life direction and established his faith walk or calling. Peter knew he could rely on this man, who called him, and Jesus came through again and again. Look at these two times when Peter experienced the power of Jesus, the one who named him. Acts 12:⁶ The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. ⁷ Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. ⁸ Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. ⁹ So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time, he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. ¹⁰ They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. ¹¹ Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” That is a radical way to help Peter, and it even amazed Peter, but Peter acknowledged, "Jesus did it!"

Acts 2: ³⁶ “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” ³⁷ Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” ³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” ⁴⁰ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” ⁴¹ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Do you believe that Jesus still works through those He has called? If ot, then today is the day to begin, because the same power exists unseen today. Access the power of the early disciples and follow your calling with your new name written down in glory! Jesus is ALIVE and working, and wanting to work in your life. His calling is just as fresh and powerful as it was when He called Simon Peter, and He has allowed us to continue to live and breathe so that He may finish what He began in each of us. As Paul said in Philippians 1: ⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So get to work and let the HOly Spirit ignite His power in your words, your life, and your calling, and let your new name be a name of power and life change. Jesus is calling, but are your ears open? Oh Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Ephesians 1:¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Stir up the hope he put in your life, get to work, and see what Jesus will do with a willing heart. IT WILL ASTOUND YOU, and lives will be changed.

What prison are you in right now? Jesus will send his angels to lead you out of that prison into the true "light of day!" Don't doubt it and respond when Jesus says "Come on out of that prison!" You are free!!

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren