I haven’t had a good relationship with riding lawnmowers.

One of the times when we lived in Florida, I had an old riding mower that I used on my acre+ property. But it seems like every single time I went out to mow, there would be something wrong with it such as a flat tire or it wouldn’t start. It was the laziest mower in the world.

I have a different riding mower now, but it too seems to have some quirks—although thankfully, not as bad as its predecessor. This one seems to have troubles starting: battery, starter, or something called a solenoid.

I recently discovered that the riding mower is dead once again and with spring coming, that’s going to be an issue soon. I was going to go out and pull the battery to buy a new one, but then I thought that this is the perfect task to involve my 14-year-old son, Joshua. His driving days are coming, so I figured any opportunity he can tinker under a hood—even a riding mower’s hood—can be helpful. Plus, it is always a win when we do something together.

He wasn’t thrilled by the offer, but he went out with me and I had him pull the battery. We drove to the store, put it in, and then discovered it was not the battery that had the issues. Probably that solenoid thing again.

I share this story because it is a good illustration of times when we invite someone to help us without really needing the help. I could have pulled the battery, bought a new one, and installed the new one all on my own. But I wanted to invite Joshua to do it with me. Not because I needed him, but because I wanted him.

God Needs Nothing from Us

As we prepare to teach our kids about Jesus calling His disciples, this point is important to remember: Jesus did not need help. Jesus is God in the flesh. As such, He is in need of nothing from us. Creator does not need the creation.

Jesus was quite capable of healing with no help from the disciples.

Jesus was quite capable of teaching with no help from the disciples.

Jesus was quite capable of walking on water, feeding the multitudes, and calming storms with no help from the disciples.

Jesus was quite capable of dying on the cross with no help from the disciples.

And Jesus was quite capable of raising from the dead with no help from the disciples.

Let’s be clear: Jesus did not call the disciples because He needed them. He called them because He wanted them.

God Calls Us to Serve

Jesus wanted His disciples to be there when He healed, and to heal as well, with God’s power.

Jesus wanted His disciples there as He taught, and to teach as well, His gospel message.

Jesus wanted His disciples there when He walked on water, fed the multitudes, and calmed storms, and to experience His power firsthand.

Jesus wanted the disciples to be there when He was arrested and died on the cross, and to experience salvation through it.

And Jesus wanted the disciples there when He rose from the dead, and to be encouraged in His life and victory over sin and death so that they could carry that message to the world.

Jesus invited His disciples—or called them would be a better way to phrase it—to follow Him—to be with Him—because He wanted them to experience His presence, power, and promised eternal life. And He wanted them to enjoy the privilege of living on mission for Him.

Does God need us as disciples? No. But that does not minimize the critical kingdom work we are called to do. For disciples of Jesus are God’s chosen mechanism to bring about what He desires—the gospel going forth into the world and people trusting in Christ for forgiveness of sin and eternal life as God’s children.

Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold of the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelms us.” — Jerry Bridges (1929-2016)

Jerry Bridges, 31 Days Toward Trusting God (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2013) [eBook].

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