Answering God's Call

             Have you ever considered how many times people in the Scripture were called by God for seemingly impossible tasks and they came up with excuses?  Abraham laughed when God told him he would be a father in his old age.  Moses said he wasn’t a good speaker when God called him to be His spokesman before Pharoah.  Jonah ran away when God called him to take a message to his enemies.  Zacharias didn’t believe a word when the Angel told him that he and Elizabeth would have a child in their old age. 

            On the other hand, there were several who didn’t doubt God’s calling for a moment.  Noah built a boat even though he had never seen rain.  David never questioned his anointing as king, even though it meant running for his life for several years.  Hosea didn’t question God when He told him to marry a prostitute to symbolize the Israelites' betrayal of God.  Peter and Andrew didn’t hesitate when Jesus called them to follow Him.  The Scripture says they followed Him “at once” (Matt. 4:20).

            From these examples, it is obvious that when God calls us to do something, we have a choice.  That’s where free will comes in.  We can choose to obey God and go “to the land [God] will show you” (Genesis 12: 1) or we can choose to disobey and potentially find ourselves in the belly of a big fish, just as Jonah did.  It’s our choice!

            I must admit that I’ve had moments when I felt God calling me to do things that I was afraid to do or just didn’t want to do.  I also must admit that I haven’t always obeyed.  So, what are we afraid of?  For me, it’s mostly a fear of failing.  I’m a lot like Moses.  I just don’t think I’m good enough to handle the job.  Choose someone else that can do it better.  However, every time that I obeyed, God was right there with me!

            What that mindset of fear forgets is that when God calls, He doesn’t expect us to do it alone.  I believe that if He calls you, He will equip you!  Consider His response to Moses.  “Who gave man his mouth?  Who makes him deaf or mute?  Who gives him sight or makes him blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (Exodus 4: 11b – 12 NIV84). 

            Don’t let your fear or doubts keep you from fulfilling God’s calling in your life.  God did not give us a “spirit of timidity but a spirit of power” (II Timothy 1: 7).  Don’t miss out on the opportunities and blessings that God has in store for you, step out in faith.  He won’t let you fall. 

            Christine Caine in her Bible Study, “20/20” says it this way: “Can you imagine sleeping through a moment God invited you into (Page 33)?” God has heard all the excuses, yet He still calls us to seemingly impossible things.  Don’t disappoint Him!  There’s no telling what adventure and blessings you might sleep through if you do!

Exodus 4: 11 – 12

II Timothy 1: 7 – 12

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