What God Is Saying Through Today’s Daily Office Readings

Readings: Psalm 34 • Jeremiah 16:14–21 • Mark 1:14–20

Today’s readings remind me that God is always the One who takes the first step.

The psalmist writes,

“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.”

Later he adds,

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Those verses describe God in wonderfully human terms. God sees. God hears. God draws near. Of course, God is Spirit, but these images remind us that God is neither distant nor indifferent. God knows our joys, our fears, our disappointments, and our grief.

Jeremiah echoes the same truth:

“For my eyes are upon all their ways.”

Even when we cannot see God, God sees us.

Even when we struggle to hear God’s voice, God has not stopped speaking.

Even when we do not understand where life is leading, God continues to guide us.

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee and calls two sets of brothers—Simon Peter and Andrew, then James and John.

His invitation is simple:

“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

They were ordinary fishermen. They had no theological degrees or positions of influence. Yet Jesus saw something in them that they could not yet see in themselves.

God has always worked that way.

Paul would later ask, “How are people to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?” God chooses ordinary people to share extraordinary grace.

As I reflect on these readings, I cannot help but remember my own call.

A month or so after my father died, I had a dream. I saw the little country church where he had been serving when he passed away. In my dream, I saw the congregation without anyone to lead them. I awoke with a deep conviction that God was calling me to become a minister—a preacher, a pastor.

I was only fifteen years old.

Two months later, that same little church asked me to become its pastor.

Looking back, I smile because I knew so little. I had much to learn and many mistakes to make. Yet God was not looking for someone who had all the answers. God was looking for someone willing to say, “Yes.”

For more than sixty years, that call has continued to shape my journey.

It has taken me to small country churches, larger congregations, classrooms, hospitals, funeral homes, and now to this front porch where I write these reflections.

God still calls people today.

Some are called to preach.

Some are called to teach.

Some are called to serve quietly behind the scenes.

Some are called simply to love a neighbor who is hurting.

Whatever the calling, it begins the same way it always has.

The God who sees us…

The God who hears our cries…

The God who is near to the brokenhearted…

Still whispers,

“Follow me.”