Growing In God’s Call

Read: Ephesians 4:1-6

This past Sunday we looked at the life of Abraham in Genesis 12 and how he was called by God to leave his land and go to the land of Canaan where the Lord was calling him to.  We also thought about how and to what God may be calling each of us to in life.  It may change as we go through life and it just might transform everything we are and do in life.  That is the story of former NFL Center Jason Brown whom I heard a story about this week.

Jason was one of the best Centers in the NFL in 2010.  He was in the midst of a 5 year $37 million contract with the St. Louis Rams (highest paid center in the NFL at that time) when the Lord called him to something else.  God called him to be a produce farmer in order to help those who are hungry and in need.  When he told his agent about this calling he said that he was crazy but Jason quickly replied, “No I am not!”  He was following God’s call and while that seemed crazy to some it made total sense to him.  He left his $37 million NFL contract to start a 1,000 acre farm in Louisburg, North Carolina to share the love of Christ and aid in hunger relief in eastern North Carolina.

His farm is fittingly called First Fruits Farm.  When Jason received this call on his life he had no experience with farming at all. But when the call came he began to research, watch videos, and talk to others about how to grow sweet potatoes, cucumbers and other produce items.  Jason once said in an interview, “A life of greatness is a life of service.”  When asked about all of the money he left in the NFL he simply said, “Love is the most wonderful currency you can have or give.”

There are many other stories like that of Jason’s.  Stories of people hearing and answering a specific call that God placed on their lives despite the sacrifices or challenges that might come with those callings.  As we talked about this past Sunday, sometimes it comes down to you and I making the choice to follow that call like Jason Brown did.  In Ephesians 4:1 Paul writes, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Make It Personal:  Each calling is different, some are large and others are small.  But each calling on your life matters to God and to the people God is wanting to reach through you. Whatever, and whenever the call of God comes… Step out and find out what God is going to do in your life.  You will be blessed because of it.

Have a great week,  Glen Rhodes