“Provoking Christian Insights” series

Part 25

Have you ever felt you were being called?

We hear a lot about “being called.” Some have even heard the words “It’s not your calling.” I’ve even said, “I’m not called to that,” when asked if I was a pastor when I was holding services as a worship leader. I didn’t always know what my calling was, but I always seemed to know what my calling wasn’t. Some folks even said “you missed your calling.” I hope not.

There are a group of Christian men that meet once a week. They asked me to join but I didn’t have a settled feeling about it. I couldn’t tell you why as it is a wonderful organization that serves God. Ironically I wasn’t able to join them. Years later they asked me again and I had the same feeling of “not being called” to that particular ministry.

At the same time I felt I was called to the teaching ministry, evangelizing, and being a worship leader. Funny, my skills weren’t perfected in those areas. If I were going to do any of those God’s hand would have to be in it. Since I worked full-time for a living my “church calling” would have to be on top of my work-load besides raising a family.

Our newspaper had a church page, but not a church related column. There was a Methodist pastor in town that I drank coffee with on occasion and we talked about this omission. Soon there was a three paragraph weekly column in the paper. Not too long after that he was moved to another city and I was without a writer. So I began searching for another pastor who could write. Nobody wanted the task every week.

Since I was the publisher I decided to do it myself. I’m sure I prayed about it. Soon after this column was born. You might say it was sort of a “virgin birth,” I had never written a Christian column before. I did edit a church camp newsletter once at Lake Erie. I felt called to do it.

Of course you’ve known people who felt called to do things that made you scratch you head wondering where the calling came, and why me? I’m sure Jonah felt the same way when God called him to go to Ninivah. We all know what happened to Jonah. And, God warns us that the End Times will be “like the days of Johah.”

“Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea; Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Saying, “Christian, follow me.”

Servant or a vessel?

I recently received a Journeys Bible study written for the Judson Press by Jim Horton, a pastor, Bible scholar, and personal friend who once pastured in Bucyrus. In his lesson the study is of Mary the mother of Jesus titled “Called to be a vessel!” It tells of Mary being called, and willing accepting, to be the mother of Jesus. Being the mother of our Lord Jesus is certainly different from being a lay-leader or host of a Bible study.  But are no different in the fact that it is God calling us and our receiving the calling “under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.” Are you ready for a calling that might prove life changing and challenging?

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38)

Horton writes about Luke 1:38. “Mary’s humble, trusting response is perhaps the greatest lesson for us. She was willing to accept the will of God. ‘Nothing is said about the fulfillment of the angelic promise: we are left to infer from Mary’s willingness to obey God that the miraculous conception by the Spirit (not by the angel) ensued.’ Furthermore there is a fulfillment of prophecy. Isaiah 7:14 says, ‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.’” Horton goes on to say that God fulfills whatever word God gives.

Yesterday my friend “Chuck” came to coffee and asked “Croneis, what are you writing about this week?”

My reply was simple … “Being called.”

Chuck was quick to answer that some years ago he felt God calling him, and that he felt the need to answer God’s call but “never got around to it.” I can tell that not answering that calling bothers him.

One interesting aspect of the Angel’s visit to Mary was in a statement about Elizabeth, a relative, who was old, and barren, had conceived and was in her sixth month of pregnancy. She would become the mother of John the Baptist. The Angels said, “With God nothing is impossible.” Mary spontaneously burst into a song of praise to God.

Is God calling you?

Are you answering God’s call on your life?  In applying the Scripture, Horton asks; “In what ways are you willing to be the vessel of God’s will? Do you consider yourself such a vessel? It is important to note that a person serving God may do so in a wide variety of ways. All humans are called by the Bible to worship God. If Mary, and Zechariah before her, was pious and obedient to the Law, she’s only doing what she should be doing in the first place. There’s nothing overly special in just attending church. But God puts particular calls for service on people, ad not necessarily just those who are ordained. Has God ‘put a burden’ on you to serve in some special way?”

Let Us Pray: “Lord God in heaven, we praise your Holy Name. We thank you for life itself your purpose for us. May we identify your calling and respond to it in a way pleasing to you through your Son Jesus. Touch us, inspire us, teach us and bless us that we may do you will on earth. Amen.

INSPIRATION: “Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store, from each idol that you keep us, Saying “Christian love me more.” (C.F. Alexander – W.H. Jude).

Write: croneis@embarqmail.com