Following Jesus, Answering "the" Call?

What does it mean to follow Jesus? My sermon this last Sunday was on this topic. Following Jesus is living for him and fulfilling the ministry of Jesus, daily. In other words, being someone who loves the Lord, loves their neighbor, and is compelled by Christ's love to show it daily wherever they exist and beyond. This is what I believe being "missional" is. (Missional is a new buzzword, used to describe a refound concept--every member of the Lord's body is a missionary, called to follow Jesus daily, sharing the Good News and living the Good News). We are a church that is seeking to be "missional." If the above is true for us as individual Christians, then it is true for us as a community of faith (a church). A community of believers who loves the Lord, each other and is compelled by Christ's love to show that loved daily wherever we exist and beyond.

Some words used to describe or refer to following Jesus are, "called," "discipleship," "ministry," and "the ministry." I think confusion happens when we make "called" and "full-time paid ministry" synomymous. Every Christian is called to "the ministry." Every Christian is called to live a new lifestyle, fulfill God's mission in Jesus, and to be an active member of Christ's new community (church). Some of us are called to pastoral ministry. Some of us are called to leave our homes to take the Good News to foreign lands. Some of us are called to leave our homes and go across town, state or nation to plant a church. Some of us are called to minister through our present careers and places in life. All of these are significant and important for God's purposes to be fulfilled in this world.

Because Jesus knew the hearts of humans and their situations, when he called different people to follow him, he addressed the areas of their hearts that needed changed and commissioned them where they needed to be. The rich young ruler needed to change his heart concerning money and possessions, so he was called to sell all. Zacchaeus view changed because of his encounter with Christ, so he was called to follow Jesus where he was. Imagine what kind of impact a Tax Collector with Jesus' values would have had. Some whom Jesus healed were told to go home and tell what had happened to them. Then some were told not to go home, because they really needed to understand what commitment to Jesus means.

Questions to ask ourselves are: How do I follow Jesus, answering his call as a stay-at-home mom (or dad)? How do I follow Jesus, answering his call as a lawyer, nurse, doctor, realtor, banker, truck driver, school teacher, CEO, mail clerk, grocery store worker, mechanic, carpenter, insurance agent, contractor, student, etc? What does it look like for me to pick up Jesus' cross daily in my life?

Following Jesus means--living a lifestyle that comes out of your relationship with God in Christ, holy, compassionate, just--based in God's ethics, morals and values. Following Jesus means sharing the grace you have received with others--materially & spiritually--bringing people to God through exhibiting Christ's love and sharing your story of faith with others. Following Jesus means being his hands, feet and voice in a world that needs him desperately--as do we all.

When the crowd asked what to do, John the baptist gave some practical ways of what it means to live according to God's ethics, morals and values...
Luke 3:10-14 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."

When Jesus told the crowd he was the light of the world, he showed that when following him, we are filled with life and are the light to the world, wherever we are...
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."