Just as Jesus called the disciples to come and follow him, Jesus calls us.  Following Jesus is a choice, more than simply believing in God.  We can spend our whole lives believing in God and never answer the call to follow Jesus.  One of the elements of Jesus’ call to follow him, to be his disciples, is that he meets us where we are.  Just as Jesus called his disciples from their jobs, their everyday lives, he calls us where we are.  We do not have to get all cleaned up, know all the books of the Bible, or take any other action that qualifies us to be Jesus’ disciples.  We simply need to hear the call and take our next step.  God loves us first.

 Jesus does not call the equipped, but equips the called.  Jesus’ first twelve disciples were not the most revered rabbis in the land, nor do we have evidence that their understanding and faithfulness to God were exceptional.  We also see within scripture that Jesus calls us more than once and anew, such as Peter hearing Jesus’ words to follow him from the shores of his fishing business and the shores following Jesus’ resurrection and Peter’s denial. 

Scripture - Matthew 4:18-20