“Bloom Where You’re Planted”

On a recent ministry visit to Georgia, I passed through one of the quaint mountain towns at the verge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  There I saw an oak tree growing straight out of a building’s concrete wall, probably four or five feet out above a sidewalk.  I wondered how that tree could possibly thrive, considering the perceived impenetrability of its foundation and the constant passing-by of people on the sidewalk beneath it.  This was a graphic example of a seed being sown by a mysterious sower, then blooming right where it was planted.

Matthew 9:9 And Yahshua passing by thence saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the customhouse, and said to him: Follow me. And he arose and followed him. 10 And it came to pass that, as he reclined at tables in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and reclined at table with Yahshua and his disciples, 11 And the Pharisees seeing it said to his disciples: Why does your teacher eat with the publicans and sinners? 12 But hearing it he said: Those who are in health have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" means. For I came not to call righteous men, but sinners. 14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Yahshua said to them: Can the sons of the bride chamber mourn while the bride groom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not Elohim made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of Elohim, the world, through wisdom, knew not Elohim, it pleased Elohim through the foolishness of what is preached, to save those that believe: 22 since Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek for wisdom, 23 we, however, preach Messiah crucified, to Jews indeed a stumbling-block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to these the called, both Jews and Greeks, Messiah Elohim’s power and Elohim’s wisdom; 25 because the foolishness of Elohim is wiser than men, and the weakness of Elohim is stronger than men. 26 For see your calling, brethren, that not many wise men according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but the foolish things of the world has Elohim chosen, that he may shame the wise, and the weak things of the world has Elohim chosen, that he may shame the strong, 28 and the ignoble things of the world and things that are despised has Elohim chosen, things that are not, that he may bring to naught things that are, 29 to the end that no flesh should glory in the sight of Elohim. CODEX SINAITICUS: The New Testament translated from the Sinaitic Manuscript Discovered by Constantine Tischendorf at Mt. Sinai by H. T. Anderson, begun in 1861, Copyright©2004 Jackson H. Snyder II.

 

   Today we study a very simple story of a not-so-simple concept:

THE BELIEVER’S CALL.

   In the gospel story, a man’s at work when Yahshua enters his place of employment  and makes a simple request: “follow me.”  There’s nothing elaborate or mystical about Matthew’s call – it’s straightforward and direct.  Matthew probably had no idea what Yahshua wanted, but following the rabbi might prove a diversion, or a chance to slack off, poke fun or collect taxes.

   The conversation between the rabbi and the tax collector is left out, making their history a mystery.  Parallel passages have nothing to add except to call him “Levi” rather than Matthew.[1]  (Why the difference in names?  According to the law, only a “levite” could collect taxes.  Levi was a title.  We still use the phrase, “tax levy.” The mystery of Matthew’s double name is solved.) 

   So Matthew the Levi followed Yahshua away, then, between sentences, something life changing happened.  This self-seeking materialist transformed into a rabbinic acolyte; i.e. a follower.  (Yahshua said, “Akolouqei moi!”)  The very next thing, Matthew has a party at his seaside resort in Capernaum, and Yahshua is his special guest. 

 

Vocation and Speculation

   Matthew’s vocation opens his life to speculation.  Why would Yahshua want a foreign agent for a follower?  Rome pulled Matthew’s strings.  The native population of lower Syria was taxed beyond comprehension to underwrite the lavish lifestyles of the Judean elite and their foreign masters, to pay for the vast weapons and armies of warfare and occupation, to finance the enormous, ongoing building projects, the palaces, cities, aqueducts, resort paradises, and pagan temples.  Historians tell us that the burden was so great upon the Jews, and punishments for nonpayment so severe that entire cities were abandoned in fear of retribution for not paying.

   As enemy collaborators, the collector’s job was very dangerous, for he was often the target of violence and hatred.  The natives despised tax men not only because they were traitors, but also because they were brutal in their collection methods, with little incentive for mercy.  Many Jewish tax collectors used their position to amass great personal wealth at the expense of the poorest.

   Tax collectors are grouped in the Bible with prostitutes and sinners, two other groups despised by the religious.  Remember Zacchaeus of Luke 19, the wee little tax man, who testified that if he’d inadvertently cheated, he’d pay back four-fold out of his own money?  Tax collectors had plenty with which to be generous; although a generous, honest, tax collector was as rare then as a generous, honest, politician is today.

 

At the Table

   We find Yahshua and his disciples reclining at table in his house.  That Matthew had a house indicates affluence – he was no down and outer.  A parallel passage (Luke) informs us that Matthew (Levi) threw “a great feast,” so his house wasn’t just a tiny bungalow with paltry provisions.  Many other tax collectors and sinners attended.  A “sinner” was any person not active in “communion.”   Matthew was no communion boy.

   Yet he takes Yahshua back to his home to meet his questionable friends.  That’s very surprising.  Yahshua was a teacher of religious law.  He wore the vestments of the clergy – the long flowing linen robe with 613 blue tassels dangling from its cuffs, and phylacteries (tefilim) at head and hand.  The rabbi’s disciples, set-apart men, are also in the house.  Remember that Simon Zelotes and Judas Iscariot had been career assassins: tax collectors and other traitors made perfect targets for such.  What courage Matthew must’ve had to bring set-apart men, assassins, traitors, prostitutes and sinners together into his home to recline at table!  I’m not sure I’d be altogether comfortable in that crowd; how about you?

   Where did Matthew’s courage originate?  Somewhere between the toll booth and the table – Matthew answered the calling on his life: the call to dedicate his all, his time, talents, money, service, heart, life, death to the task of gathering in the lost children of Israel.  Matthew had considerable THINGS to leave behind in order to acquire the powers of righteousness and the meekness of love.  But though the call and his affirmative answer may’ve been sudden, they were most certainly real – supernatural – immediately life-changing. 

 

The Common and Higher Callings

   Consider the common call:  It’s a marvelous thing to believe that Yahshua lived, died and rose so that we might be saved from the wrath of Elohim.  Nobody wants to endure wrath; nobody wants to consider the prospect of judgment.  70% think they’re going to Heaven.  Yahshua paid the ransom price so that eternal destruction might be avoided upon the narrow way, and eternal life gained.  Given the choice of life or death, a person will always choose life for the same reason that Matthew chose to become a tax collector – the greed of gain.  Heaven is gain; Hell is loss.  The common call is a simple choice because it’s based in greed.  Choose Heaven or Hell.  Who would choose the latter?

   But if that’s all there is, then let’s keep dancing.  There’s a higher call:  Matthew records Yahshua saying, “Many are called, few are chosen” (polloi gar eisin klhtoi, oligoi de eklektoi, 22:14), as though only Yahweh does the choosing.  But the choice of the higher call is not made by Yahweh, but by the one who’s called.  I read the passage, “Many are called, but few have chosen.”  That’s entirely proper, and changes the meaning completely.

   We hope everybody who’s ever walked through this communion door has heard the common call.  That’s the ostensible reason why this communion exists at all – to reveal the called–out for discipleship.  In fact, the word communion means called out – everyone knows that.   But we know the higher calling hasn’t been nearly as well answered as the common call.  Had it been so, your communion would’ve set the world on fire by now.  For though many have been called up higher, few have chosen to respond in the manner that the higher call demands.

   The higher calling requires a very seriously considered decision; one must choose not only to say “yes” to the prospect of life and Heaven, but one must also say “yes” to obediently carrying out the directives enunciated by the heavenly voice (bath qal).  It’s one thing to choose Heaven; it’s quite another thing to bring Yahshua into your house, to your friends, your family, and then serve him up your whole life at your own expense.  Those who’ve chosen the higher calling, the better portion, will tell you that their call is not only irrevocable and irresistible, but also sublime, beatific, serendipitous.  Following Yahshua leads to personal righteousness, decency, Elohimliness, a biblical, counter-cultural lifestyle and, eventually, love; believe it or not, such changes of heart often don’t take very long at all to manifest.

 

My Call

   May I share my testimony?  I received a very distinct call over thirty-five years ago – that was long after I was “saved.”  I thought it was to music; music ministry made sense – I studied vocal music and conducting choirs in college.  But I learned that talent, education, and calling can be three very different concepts. 

   A retired supply minister got me back into communion at 25 as his lay leader.  This saint wasn’t treated well by the communion folks; they said he was too old and worn out.  They sent him off.  He told me it was my job to preach in his absence.  I was petrified, and declined.  But he gently admonished me, “Jack, you are called to preach.  If you’ll just answer the call, Yahshua will help you.”  Now, I had no idea how to preach (and some still say I don’t), but I did what I was told and answered the call.

   In the last twenty-five years, my call has been confirmed by the ripening and dropping off of a little fruit here and there.  There’s security in knowing that, when a saint stands before the judge, she can honestly say, “I know I’ve been obedient to my calling, to the Bible standard, to the business of an acolyte, and to my master’s bidding – for here’s the fruit of it.  See for yourself.”

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:18 

 

Pity the Educated

   Not long ago someone said to me, “You’re an educated fellow.  You could’ve made lots of money.”  Then he said these words, “Does it bother you to have nothing — to live in somebody else’s house – to be criticized all the time?”  My answer was, “Yes, it does bother me.  Why couldn’t we be more prosperous?  Why hasn’t Yahweh given us more?”  Many times we feel, like the One we follow, that “Foxes have holes and birds nests, but we’ve no place to lay our heads.”[2]  Like the prophets of old, we struggle with the sinners’ wealth while the obedient wrestle all the time. 

   Now, it’s not sinful to have financial resources unless the gain is ill-gotten.  Who wouldn’t want to buy into the illusion of financial security?  Some people have worked hard all their lives; they deserve it and far more.  Yahweh has blessed others with money they didn’t earn.  We rejoice in them, for Yahshua needs well-off, giving-motivated people to sharing the wealth with brothers and sisters in need.  Such is the basic test given the one who has more than enough!  However, loving things more than loving Elohim and his people is idolatry.  Sometimes it’s hard not to cross that line.

   That same man asked me, “If you could go back, would you change anything?”  I’d change everything!  I’d be more conscientious.  Maybe I’d have a house.  Maybe I’d invest money.  Maybe this or that.  But I wouldn’t change my answer to the higher calling no matter what the consequences.  When I think of the battles fought over disease, the souls of sinners, and demons – and the battles won for the Kingdom – who could regret that trail of tears?  (Even battles in the spiritual realm are won by blood.)  As missionary William Borden wrote in his Bible: “No reserves.  No retreats.  No regrets.”  The last he scribbled just before his death at age twenty-one.

      To some, this idea of a higher calling is a mystery.  How can a person explain it?  I left the pastoral ministry for a few years.  When I returned, the first thing the Pensacola District Board of Ministry asked me was, “Why are you back?”  My answer was, “Because of the call.”  I didn’t have to make further explanation.  Everybody in that room knew exactly what I meant because each one had been called there. 

   One time, this same man asked me (with eyes of tears), “Jack, what do you think is my calling?”  I said, “Your calling, brother, is to step out and do something, anything, in the name of Yahshua, so that through doing you may eventually hear his higher call to following righteousness.”  In the next few years, our Father called this man to be a great friend and inspiration to me personally – he became my beloved disciple.  Some of you will receive a higher calling; higher than you’re currently heeding.  “Many are called but few have chosen.”  When you hear his voice, be prepared to step out so you won’t miss your opportunity.

 

You Gotta Bloom

   I went to lay speaker school and got a preaching license.  Soon I was preaching in some little communion just about every week. For a couple of years, I did open-air preaching in state park campgrounds.  I didn’t like it, but that was the job I was given to do by Yahshua’ Communion, like it or not.  Open air preaching is a really hard ministry.  After a year of that kind of rejection, I thought I should have a better ministry. 

   I met an insurance agent named Eric Hopkins.  One day I was reclining in his home at his table, complaining: “I should be doin’ better than this little town.  Yahweh’s givin’ everybody else chances, but I gotta stay here.”  I needed excitement!  I wanted to go to Florida or travel with a tent revival!  Brother Eric reclined across the table then said something that I am blessed to pass on.  He said, “Brother Jack, you gotta bloom where yer planted.  Takin’ root on rocky ground ain’t easy, but when ya realize that Elohim planted ya here, you’ll start bloomin’ outward.  You only have to realize that first, then follow on where he leads.” 

   “Bloom where you’re planted!” he said.  Yahweh has no little ministries and no little callings.  However, no matter how little, the first call must be answered – there may not be another.  He formed us, called us, appointed us.  We’re planted here, in this rocky, thorny soil.  Being called here is not a little thing.  Your potential here is not a meager possibility.  Yahweh doesn’t measure as we measure. 

   But if it seems a little thing, or if you’ve been at it too long, or if your bloom has sprouted, gone to seed and blown away, then your first love has left and you must find her again.

 

Right at Home With Matthew

   Look again at Matthew.  He takes Yahshua to his home, to his table, to his cohort, to his family, to his friends – right down there in the gritty, hard dirt of where he’s planted.  That’s no little ministry!  He doesn’t sweep the sin in his house behind the geraniums or the davenport.  He’s called first to those right at home in the little village of Capernaum, and he makes his folks available by bringing the Master to them.  When the job is done there, when the house is cleansed and converted, when his old drinking and working buddies answer the common call, then he leaves his house behind entirely, he leaves the tax booth, he leaves the source of his gains, and he follows the Master upward to higher ground.  He blooms right where he’s planted, then he branches out.

   We know nothing for sure about Matthew’ life beyond the tax booth or where the call took him.  The Bible says that before he was baptized in the Spirit at Pentecost in 33 AD, he was called to herald the call to those in his own household.  That’s the slightly higher calling for all of us.  One tradition tells us that Matthew bloomed in Galilee for fifteen years, seeking out lost sheep, before he went as a missionary to the Parthians and later to the Ethiopians, where he gave his life as a martyr.  A brand new theory propounds that Matthew Levi was the father of the famous historian Flavius Josephus.[3]

   At any rate, those to whom Matthew was called are long gone.  We don’t really know if he converted pagans, worked miracles, or sat around and twiddled this thumbs.  Nevertheless, there is one fruit of Matthew’s calling that has been tasted by every believer that ever lived.  This fruit is reported by one of John’s disciples named Papias.  One special sentence of Papias’ work has survived to tell us, “Matthew gathered together the words and works of Yahshua in the Hebrew language, and interpreted them as best as he could.” (http://www.ccel.org/fathers/ANF-01/papi/fragmentsofpapias.html) 

   (Hold up your Bible:) And here are these oracles that Matthew translated, in your language for you and in languages for six billion others.  His ministry isn’t remembered, but the fruit of his calling is everywhere – and yours will be too!   Say ‘yes’ to the higher call then bloom where you’re planted. For the world with its lusts passes away, but whomever does Yahweh’s will abides forever.  1 John 2:17

 

APOSTLES’ CREED – Modified Ecumenical Version

I believe in one Elohim, the Father Almighty,

        creator of heaven and earth

 

I believe in Yahshua Messiah, his only Son, our Master,

        who was conceived by the Set-apart Spirit,

        born of the Virgin Maryah,

        suffered under Pontius Pilate,

        was crucified, died, and was buried;

        he descended to the dead.

        On the third day he rose again;

        he ascended into heaven,

        is seated at the right hand of the Father,

        and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Set-apart Spirit,

        the set-apart elect universal,

        the communion of saints,

        the forgiveness of sins,

        the resurrection of the body

        and the life everlasting.  Amein.

 Jackson Snyder, June 8, 2002

---