Blessed be the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Welcome as we dive into the Word of God.
There are two distinct moments in our lives when the Lord Jesus calls us. Let us examine how He called His disciples both the first and the second time, so we can better understand how God calls us today.
The First Call of Jesus
In the first call, Jesus approached His disciples while they were busy with their daily activities. He found Peter and Andrew while they were fishing and said:
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
—Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
Later, He called Matthew while he was at his tax collector’s booth:
“Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
—Matthew 9:9 (NIV)
This first call was simple and comforting. Jesus gave no hard conditions. He offered hope, not demands. For instance, to Nathanael He said:
“You will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
—John 1:51 (NIV)
In summary, the first call was a call of comfort, invitation, and promise—not one of hardship or cost.
The Second Call of Jesus
But the second call is different—deeper, more demanding. Jesus now addresses everyone, not just individuals like Peter or Matthew. This time, He does not go to fishermen or tax collectors one by one. He calls the crowd and His disciples together and gives them a universal invitation:
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
—Mark 8:34 (NIV)
This second call is not selective. It is for everyone—male or female, young or old, healthy or disabled. And it comes with a condition: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow.
This makes the second call seem to overshadow the first one. Even Peter, who received the initial comforting call, now finds himself confronted with a deeper demand. Jesus is asking him—and everyone else—whether they are still willing to follow, even with the cost involved.
This becomes clear in the Gospel of John when many disciples walked away:
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
—John 6:66 (NIV)“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
—John 6:67 (NIV)Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
—John 6:68–69 (NIV)
Even Peter—the one first called—was asked if he too wanted to leave. Jesus did not plead with those who walked away. He gave them freedom to go. This is sobering. The promises of the first call remain only for those who remain faithful through the second.
Do Not Settle for the First Call
Dear brother or sister, perhaps you once heard the call of Jesus filled with encouragement and promises. Maybe He told you that you would be His servant, a blessing to thousands. But do not rest in that first call. That call was an invitation. Now comes the testing—the second call.
Even Peter, John, and Nathanael heard words of comfort at first, but later they had to deny themselves and carry their crosses.
In the second call, Jesus doesn’t differentiate between His original disciples and the crowd. He speaks to all as if this were the first time He was calling them. This means that everyone must respond afresh, not based on past promises, but present surrender.
If you are now experiencing the second call, decide today to follow Jesus by denying yourself. That’s exactly what Peter and the others had to do—they reaffirmed their commitment and followed Christ with full understanding of the cost.
True Discipleship Requires Denial and Sacrifice
Let go of lukewarm Christianity. Stop boasting in visions or spiritual gifts. Deny yourself. Carry your cross. Flee from sin and worldliness. Forsake worldly fashion that doesn’t glorify God. The Bible says:
“I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.”
—1 Timothy 2:9 (NIV)
Avoid idolatry. Don’t conform to the world, even if the world thinks you’ve lost your mind. Follow Jesus boldly and leave the world behind. On that Day, you will receive the crown of life.
Always remember:
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
—Matthew 22:14 (NIV)
Let us strive to be among the chosen of the Lord Jesus.
God bless you.
Maranatha!
Please share this message with others.