For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).
Undoubtedly some people may have had this thought or question come to their mind, what does it mean to be called? Is it that someone is trying to call me on my telephone? Is someone speaking in a loud voice hoping that I might hear? Is someone knocking at my door to call upon me for some reason?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary has the word call defined as:
To speak in a loud distinct voice so as to be heard at a distance. To invite or command to meet. To rouse from sleep or summon to get up. To give the order for, bring into action. A request or command to come or assemble. A summons. A divine vocation or strong inner prompting to a particular course of action.
Paul has written previously that God’s people Israel will get back to God. This will be through faith in Christ, eventually. This is the reason for the nation of Israel, it was God’s purpose. So, why has God done this? Earlier it is said that it is a direct result of their ancestors.
Those are the patriarchs of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God provided for these three men unconditional promises that He would favor them and make of them a powerful country. Since these guarantees were given by God, they were sure of the outcome.
The promises were God’s blessings. God called the patriarchs to follow Him, and He made a never-ending contract with them that would pass to their descendants.
Paul composes that these gifts and callings are unalterable. However, God later made contingent agreements to favor Israel in the event that they would keep the law, His vows to the patriarchs were for the most part promises dependent on His own sovereignty.
Those promises will not be disavowed regardless of how much Israel sins in dismissing faith in Christ as the Messiah. God will consistently call Israel back into a relationship with Himself, even guiding the nation to faith in Christ in due time.
So, what does it mean to be called or to hear the call? What is our answer, to preach or not to preach? How do we know if what we heard, or what we think that we heard, is from God? To be able to give any type of answer, I would venture to first ask this question from the hymn, Is Thy Heart Right with God
Have thy affections been nailed to the cross? Is thy heart right with God? Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss? Is thy heart right with God? Is thy heart right with God, washed in the crimson flood, Cleansed and made holy, humble, and lowly, right in the sight of God?
Anyone can be called for one reason or another, for one type of service or another.
Ephesians 4:11-16talks about the endowment of spiritual leaders and the significance of an adoring, mature, and bound together Christianity. A few believers are supplied with gifts of instructing, lecturing, etc. It is urgent to the well-being of the congregations that these individuals utilize their spiritual gifts suitably.
Simultaneously, various individuals from a congregation have various capabilities. The group of believers works best when those individual pieces are cooperating, through their special jobs. A sound and healthy church is undeniably more impressive than a large fully packed church. Each person is called to do something and not in the same way as someone else.
Are you called to preach, to teach, or to serve in some capacity by God or man? Have you called yourself into a profession of the ministry to fill a place in society? Or has the Holy Spirit called and who among us has answered?
Have we picked up the Holy telephone or have we left the earthly answering machine on? Have we told the unholy secretary to hold all calls? Or have you responded as Samuel when called by the Lord, “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening’” (1 Samuel 3:10).
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
God works out all things for our good. This does not imply that all that happens to us is acceptable. Evil is pervasive in our fallen world; however, God uses it for our long-term good. Note that God is not attempting to satisfy us or make us happy.
He works to satisfy his purposes. Note likewise that this guaranteed promise is not for everyone. It can only be claimed by the individuals who love God and submit to his plans. The individuals who are called are those the Holy Spirit convicts and accepts Christ.
Such individuals have a new viewpoint and a new attitude on life. They trust in God, not life's fortunes. They look to their security in heaven, not on earth. They comprehend how to acknowledge, not begrudge pain and persecution since they know God is with them.
Some Christians are called to fulfill the holy calling of the preacher. It does not matter what your status is in social circles, your ethnicity, your educational background, your wealth, or lack thereof.
At his ordination, Timothy received extraordinary gifts of the Spirit to empower him to serve the church (1 Timothy 4:14). In advising Timothy to stir up those gifts, Paul was urging him to continue on. Timothy did not require new gifts or revelations.
He required the fortitude and self-restraint to hold tight to the truth and utilize the gifts he had effectively received (2 Timothy 1:13-14). In the event that he would venture out intensely in faith and announce the gospel again, the Holy Spirit would empower him and go with him.
Paul is encouraging Timothy to be valiant when facing distressing situations. Paul is reminding Timothy that he is being prayed for and that he came from a faithful family (2 Timothy 1:5). Paul is also reminding Timothy they are both in God’s service and that he knows and understands how he feels.
Whether or not you have the “calling” to preach, all Christians are called to do something. Christ gave the Great Commission.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
We are to go and make disciples, regardless of whether it is nearby, a neighboring city or community, the next state, across the country, or to another nation. It is anything but a choice yet an order, a command to all who proclaim Jesus as their Lord.
We are not all evangelists, but rather we have all received gifts that we can use in satisfying the Great Commission. As we trust and obey, we have solace in knowing that Jesus is with us always.
For further reading:
Are All Believers Called to Ministry?
What Is the Biblical View of Mission Work?
‘Here Am I Lord, Send Me’ — Inspiring Bible Story and Meaning of Isaiah 6:8
What Did Jesus Mean to ‘Go and Make Disciples’?
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