Before You Felt Called
Luke 15:4-5 (CEB) · The Gospel on Stage and Screen
“When he finds it, he is thrilled and places it on his shoulders.” — Luke 15:5 (CEB)
Before Paul ever felt called, the shepherd had already come looking.
Jesus tells a short story in Luke 15. A shepherd loses one sheep out of a hundred, leaves the ninety-nine, and searches until he finds it. Then he lifts it onto his shoulders and carries it home, thrilled.
That is the pattern behind Paul’s testimony. Paul was not searching for Jesus on the Damascus road; Jesus was searching for Paul. This is the order of calling: mercy before mission, being found before going out. God always moves first.
If you have been waiting to feel ready, this is good news. Readiness was never the starting line. Being found was.
Tomorrow, our congregation gathers for the final Sunday of The Gospel on Stage and Screen. The sermon closes with a text Paul wrote about being called before he felt ready, paired with this story of the shepherd who came searching first. If you are near McPherson, we worship at 8:30 and 10:15 at McPherson First United Methodist Church. Online worship is available at youtube.com/@mcphersonfirst.
The invitation is the same wherever you hear it. The shepherd has already found you. Now come and worship the one who has been carrying you all along.
Seeking God, you came looking for me before I ever felt ready. Carry me home again this week, and let me worship the one who has been carrying me all along. Amen.