Called out.

Called out.

listen to podcast:
http://www.pastorwoman.com/…/8e3023f6-3225-4a00-bf5b-987ecb…

Every once in a while, someone comes along who calls out greatness--like a coach who calls forth the best in his player. Is there someone who has called something out of you, motivating you to reach new levels in your life? The Strengths-Finder would describe this person as an Activator.

In a similar way, God calls us out. Truly, God is the great Activator. And he calls out of us those things that would stay dormant within us if he did not lead us, but first, he calls us to follow him.

In choosing his disciples, Jesus called ordinary men to follow him, and then he called out the best in them. Consider this scene at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry where John writes:

"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. 
He found Philip and said to him, "Come, follow me." 
Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown.

~>Notice with me the relational aspect of connection with Jesus. He invites Philip to follow him, and as soon as Philip realizes that Jesus is the Messiah, (the one they had read about and knew about from the scriptures), he invites another, Nathaneal.

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."

"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

~>'Why that's preposterous!' Nathanael thinks. 'If this man is really the Messiah, if the Messiah is really going to set Israel free from Rome's tyranny, he would not come out of a no-count town like Nazareth. He would come from Jerusalem, a place of importance, a place of kingship!'

Undaunted, Philip issues a simple invitation.

"Come and see for yourself," Philip replied.

As they approached, Jesus said, "Now here is a genuine son of Israel-a man of complete integrity."

"How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, 
"I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you."
~>Jesus calls out Nathanael before he even has a conversation with him. He calls out the good in him- commends him before his friends - as a righteous Jew and a man of integrity.

Then Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God-the King of Israel!"

Jesus asked him, "Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this."1

>>Come and see . . . I like those words: invitation, exploration, insight, belonging. 
>>Come and see for yourself - Philip's astute words. We must discover for ourselves what walking with God looks like, friends. 
>>Come and see. You know, it seems we think of our story with God beginning when we began our search for God in earnest, but really it begins because God is searching for us! Long before you knew it, long before you believed, God was searching for you.

Jesus comments about Nathanael were life giving to the man. I'm wondering, have you ever stopped to think of what Jesus would say about you?

Probably you haven't actually stopped to think of what Jesus would say about you, but it is worthwhile to do so. I'm wondering - is that a good thought or a frightening thought for you? Depends on what you believe about the heart of God toward you I guess. Make sure that you are not confusing God's thoughts toward you by 'the Church's'; some of us were born into religion, and religion does not satisfy. Religion leaves our souls empty. It is relationship with God that we were made for; it completes us.

God is calling out the good in you.
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing."2

Jesus is saying to you, "Come to Me . . . I'm all you need" Just as Jesus called Nathanael, and then he called out the good in Nathanael . . . 
So he is calling out the good in you. Friend, you have been called to follow Jesus, and he is calling you out to an adventurous life in him.

Consider yourself called out.

Christine

PastorWoman.com

1 - John 1.43-50, NLT
2 - Zephaniah 3.17