Christ began to call me to ordained ministry eleven years before I answered. Even when I did, it was not a straight or certain path. As I prepared to preach my trial sermon that was to be submitted to the Board of Ministry, I had a conversation with God. Well, it was me yelling at God in denial of that call, with no response. However, later that day, God’s response was so clear and definitive that I could not deny it. My acceptance of that divine invitation changed the trajectory of my life forever, and the subsequent growth changed me in ways I could never have imagined.

Kudos to those who, like Isaiah, hear and accept God’s call immediately. But for most of the people with whom I have had a conversation on the subject there was definite reluctance to make the seemingly all-or-nothing commitment required by Christ’s call.

Peter models the way we use our lives to avoid making the changes that the divine invitation (or demand) requires. It is interesting that both Peter and Isaiah protest their worth to be recipients of the grace that accompanied the call. Both say they are sinful. But then, is that not everyone’s situation? Clearly, sinlessness cannot be a requirement for doing the work of God, or else no one would be worthy of being a proclaimer of the good news of Christ. The acceptance of the divine call brings grace that enables and empowers faithful proclamation of the good news.