There’s an old saying, “Some were called, some were sent, and some just got up and went.”

Following the battle in the woods of Ephraim, Absalom was dead and his rebellion was over. Someone needed to carry the news of the victory back to King David. Ahimaaz wanted to be that messenger, but Joab chose someone else—the Cushite.

Ahimaaz persisted. He wanted to run so badly that Joab finally asked him a penetrating question: “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?” (2 Samuel 18:22). Still Ahimaaz pleaded, “Let me run.” Finally, Joab said, “Run.”

And run he did! Ahimaaz ran with such determination that he overtook the Cushite and reached David first. He had enthusiasm. He had energy. He had speed. He had determination. There was only one problem: he didn’t have the message.

When Ahimaaz reached David, he announced the victory. But David immediately asked the question that mattered most to him: “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz couldn’t answer. The man who ran fastest had arrived first, but the man who had been sent arrived with the message.

There is a lesson here for those of us who want to serve God. We can mistake enthusiasm for calling, activity for obedience, and speed for effectiveness. It is possible to be busy for God without first being prepared by God.

Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Notice the order. Ministry doesn’t begin with fishing. It begins with following.

Jesus didn’t simply tell His disciples to run; He called them to follow. They walked with Him, listened to Him, watched Him, learned from Him, and were changed by Him. Then He sent them. Before we become concerned about what we’re doing for Jesus, perhaps we should be concerned about what Jesus is doing in us.

The Kingdom doesn’t merely need people who can run fast. It needs people who have followed Jesus long enough to know why they are running, where they are going, and what message they carry.

Don’t just run. Follow Him—and let Him make you ready to be sent. ©

–PGR