When God Says Come - Martin Wiles

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” Matthew 14:28 NLT

He had called me to come before . . . but never like this. So when God says come, I must go.

The first time I came was as a fisherman. My brother and I were cleaning our nets when he came strolling along the beach. He invited me to leave my nets and career and fish for people. A strange call, but I followed. Most recently, he had asked me to figure out how the other disciples and I would feed more than five thousand people who had been listening to him teach. He instructed the crowd to sit on the ground in groups and told us to pass out the pieces of bread and fish we had scrounged from the crowd.

Miracles seemed to follow Jesus. He sent the crowds away after he fed them. Then, he sent us away as well. While the other disciples and I were in the middle of the lake, a storm arose. When it seemed we would die, Jesus walked us on the water. Once I realized it wasn’t a ghost, I thought I might like to try what he was doing. So, I asked, and he told me to come.

Peter was a reckless fellow, willing to try almost anything—whether good or bad. Sometimes he strutted like the sole cock in the chicken yard. At other times, he failed miserably. But, to his credit, he accepted Jesus’ invitation to walk on water.

Jesus’ invitations to come are varied. He’s issued invitations to me numerous times over my lifetime. Sometimes, I’ve listened and obeyed, but I’ve also had instances where my faith faltered, and I said “No.” He calls some into full-time ministry, some on short-term mission trips, some to the hospitals, and some to the local women’s shelter. Others he beckons to the classrooms, their neighbors, and the local fire departments.

Where God’s invitation takes us is not as important as our willingness to go where he invites us.

Listen carefully. You might just hear God calling you.

Prayer: Father, give us faith and courage to go where You invite us. 

Tweetable: How do you respond when God calls? 

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