“Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” —1 Corinthians
9:16
“Beware of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is
saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not
the same as the call to preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used
in preaching. In this verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced
in him by the compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. […] Paul’s
words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our
permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes
us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to
the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone
begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced.
Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely
blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “…separated to the
gospel…” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that
call has come to him[…] Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips
you.” CHAMBERS
It is not just the call to preach, but more, a call to serve
in any capacity. Some, but not all of us,
are called out of what we might consider the “super-ordinary life” that most
Christians live … I say “super-ordinary” because living the new life in Christ
is anything but ordinary. We know when
that happens … Paul says in Ephesians
4:11-12, “And he [Jesus] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints,
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” That may be expressed in a church down the
street or in a foreign land. Whatever it might be, it is a clear calling. Set
apart for the purpose of serving the body and expanding the Kingdom.
Our struggle is not in knowing that we have been called to
something, but in obeying that call. It’s
a point of obedience. Some will
acknowledge the call and then let the world consume them, never heeding the
call and never finding peace. They were
shaped … purposed by God for something more … Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” And they chose to live in disobedience. It might be that they were called to missions
.. it was a truth that they knew in the depth of their being .. but in the
course of living their life, they chose to go left when God said go right. The result was a holy discontent that could
not be quenched with anything the world had to offer. The knowledge of the call never leaves
them. The only solution is repentance
and obedience.
Perhaps you are that person.
I want to encourage you to yield your heart to God. You may think it is too late. If you think that you deceive yourself. Too late for whom? God is eternal. Do you think that His plan will be disrupted
by a few years of wandering? Israel was
in the desert for 40 years. Do you think
that your age is a limitation? Then you think too little of God who has called
you. Do it today .. fulfill your purpose
to the glory of God. ELGIN
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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