How God calls

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. – Matthew 4:18-20 (NASB)

photo courtesy O'Reilly Lewis

Jesus, on a mission to build His following, walked along the seashore knowing exactly who He was looking for; His first catch would be men who knew how to fish.

Peter, Andrew, James and John were called by Jesus to follow Him. He called them and they immediately responded by leaving all that they knew, their livelihoods, their careers, their jobs, and their families.

The overall call has not changed, those four were called one way but how God calls us is totally dependent on God. He is the one who seeks us out, calls us and opens doors of discipleship to us to play an essential part of the work of salvation.

Here are some ways in which God chose to make calls.

God calls Abraham (Abram) – Genesis 12:1 (GNT)

The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's home, and go to a land that I am going to show you.

God calls Moses – Exodus 3:4 (GNT)

When the Lord saw that Moses was coming closer, he called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses! Moses!”

God calls Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:3-4 (GNT)

Samuel was sleeping in the sanctuary, where the sacred Covenant Box was. Before dawn, while the lamp was still burning, the Lord called Samuel.

God calls Jeremiah – Jeremiah 1:4,5 (GNT)

The Lord said to me, “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.”

God calls Mary – Luke 1:26,27 (GNT)

God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. 27 He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. 

Gos calls Paul – Acts 9:17 (GNT)

“Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord has sent me—Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. 

We see from the text that how God calls, is different for everyone depending on His purpose. How God calls you and how God calls me may not be the same, however, rest assured that no matter how God calls, His call on our lives is no ordinary experience.

God’s call isn’t a call that can be easily ignored. That’s a call we must answer, but in answering, how do we respond to His call?

Many think that God’s call is limited to vocational ministry, but God can also call persons to specific tasks.

So, yes, God calls us all to salvation.

God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. – 1 Timothy 2:3,4 (NASB)

This is a universally extended call which has gone out to all mankind and it’s up to each individual to answer that call.

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. – 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NASB)

We respond to God’s universal call by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

God’s call is also a call to serve. Christ Himself said that He came to serve and not to be served (see Matthew 20:28) and He is the example that we must follow. God’s call is a call to humble service (John 13:15).

 This call to serve is not about having an outward display of service but a genuine commitment to serve displayed through acts of service.

God also calls us to surrender; offering our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). We must make ourselves available to God, fully surrendered to honouring Him by our willingness to fulfil His mission.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20(NASB)

God calls us to give Him full control of our lives, to set aside our lives for His purpose. He wants us to be completely dependent on Him, after all, He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity (2 Timothy 1:9 NASB).

Beloved, God may be calling you even now to share in His work, to live the life that Christ died for you to live but like most of us, you get so caught up in the busyness of life that you can’t hear God’s call or because of how God calls, you figure it’s not Him calling. Look back at all the various ways God calls – He may make a direct call, or He may send someone to you – pay attention, as your response to God’s call will determine the direction of your life.

I will leave you with this lovely hymn written by Cecil Frances Alexander and I pray that as you read it, God will open your ears to hear His call. 

Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
Of our life's wild, restless sea;
Day by day his sweet voice sounding,
Saying, "Christian, follow me."

Brothers Simon, Andrew heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home, and toil, and kindred,
Leaving all for His dear sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”

Jesus calls us—By your mercies,
Savior, may we hear your call,
Give our hearts to your obedience,
Serve and love you best of all.

 

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “How God calls” © 2026 July 31, 2026