Isaiah 6:1-8
Some calls we don’t want: The IRS,
the boss on a weekend, the teacher after we’ve had a bad day at school, the “robo
call” or marketing call. Perhaps it’s because of the negative calls like these
that we don’t want to hear from God…? Or, maybe the examples in Scripture kind
of terrify us.
In Isaiah 8, we hear Isaiah’s
call—smoke, fire, seraphim, and more! Perhaps we have bumped into other great
calls in Scripture: Abraham’s call in Genesis 12 – “I am going to make a new
nation out of you” …no pressure; Moses’ call in Exodus 3 – “My people are in
bondage in the most powerful kingdom in the world, and I’m using you to set
them free” …again, no pressure.
In the New Testament, God
continues to call people, and some of those calls are no less dramatic that the
Old Testament: Paul’s call - Damascus Road experience is incomparable; Peter,
James, and John’s call – “Follow me and fish for people...” (be prepared to
leave it all!)
Perhaps because of these somewhat
overwhelming, life-altering calls, we are reluctant to even listen to hear if
God is calling us to something in our lives. We may not even want to dive into
the disciplines of prayer and Bible study because God might just call us to
something!
When I was 18 years old, I was called
to Christian ministry after a time of searching and making sense of life. My
call story is my story. Too often, we think someone else’s call
is going to be a pattern of how our call plays out. We fear that God is going
to call us to something we don’t want to do or think we cannot do.
I’ve learned at least two things
about God’s call in our lives as followers of Jesus. First, God can put new
desires, hopes, and dreams into our lives (see Psalm 37:4). Second, God equips
us and enables us to do what we’re called to do: Abraham was unable to have
children, yet God gave him children; Moses was not able to speak clearly, so God
gave him a spokesperson, Aaron; Paul did not have a heart for others and had
nothing to do with Gentiles, and God gave him a heart for others—especially
Gentiles.
God may call us to do … or God
may call us to be. One of my favorite call stories is found in the
Gospels—Matthew 11:28.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and are
carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Jesus calls us to himself—not to
a task, not to a job. Jesus calls us to simply be with him.
Listen for God’s voice—it comes
to us in song, in prayer, in Scripture, and in the voices of those around us. Listen
for God’s voice—it brings our lives us purpose, direction, and meaning. Listen
and respond—God is putting new dreams, hopes, and desires in your life, and God
will give you everything you need to do what He calls you to. “If God calls you
to it, God will take you through it.” Listen and respond—God may be calling you
to action, or God may be calling you to rest.
Whatever the call is that comes
to us, God is moving you and me closer and closer to the better life God has
for us, and God will use us to touch the lives of others. God calls. We can
respond. Amen
Sunday,
November 17, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Call”
Watch/Listen: HERE
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