The Disciple - Part 3 (God Calls the Disciple)

Bubba has learned that to fight the temptations of the devil, he must allow the Holy Spirit to continually fill him as he prayerfully reads his Bible for transformation. And the more he reads, the stronger he becomes in his faith.

One particular passage has struck a chord with Bubba. He was reading Matthew 25 and the parable of the sheep and the goats. He hears Jesus tell him Christians feed the hungry and thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the strangers and visit the sick and imprisoned.

He’s been doing this to some degree. He’s volunteered through his church to work in a soup kitchen once a month. It’s here that he also donates his old clothes. He welcomes all he sees with open arms. And he’s even been with Parson to the hospital a time or two.

But it’s the last one…the visiting people in prison…that he realizes he’s never done. And it’s not just that he gets a sense that he has a list here to do. He feels drawn to part of the passage for some reason.

At first he thinks it might be guilt for not ever doing anything with prisoners. But then he realizes that his God is not a god who keeps a tally sheet. And he wants to know why he can’t stop thinking about people in prison. His heart goes out to those because of another favorite passage of his that tells him that Jesus came for the sick. And who are more apt to be spiritually sick than those who have done something to put them in prison?

After a while Bubba sees Parson for advice, and Parson explains that is sounds like Bubba’s being called to some type of prison ministry. He goes on to say that when we find a sudden passion for ministry, often times it’s a calling from God.

But Bubba has a problem with this. Surely God wouldn’t call him for something this important. He’s new to the faith. Even though he’s been reading his bible, he’s really only gotten through the gospels and knows very little other than the bible stories he remembers from his childhood. He’s not a good speaker and wouldn’t know what to say to prisoners. And he couldn’t relate to their situation.

No…there’s no way God would ever think of calling him to any sort of prison ministry. His heart goes out to these people whom Bubba thinks are in desperate need of the love of Christ…but no way it’s supposed to be him. He’s just not worthy. Maybe later…but not now.

And so we see that Bubba is yet again confused.

But then Parson convinces Bubba that God calls whom he wants and not whom the world sees as worthy. If God is indeed calling Bubba to do some type of prison ministry, He will not only give him the gifts he needs, but he will provide a way for it to happen.

Parson also tells Bubba to pray about it and ask God to show him a sign.

Bubba takes Parson’s advice and prays about his situation. The next week an ex-con who started up a prison ministry comes by Parson’s office and asks if he can speak at his church, or have his church take up a donation to help his ministry.

Parson tells the guy about Bubba. And Bubba senses an answer to his prayers. He talks to the guy and volunteers his time. And he finds out that his life is truly changed (yet again) by accepting God’s calling to this ministry. It’s through this ministry that he finds fulfillment and joy