God appeared to Moses and said to him, “ ‘…bring My people…out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go…?’ ” (Exodus 3:10-11).
Perhaps like Moses, You may have thought that God only calls certain – special – people – not someone like you - but that would not be correct. True – they are ones that you hear about – but every Believer is called by God for God’s divine and eternal purpose.
Romans 12:5-6 says that - We, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us –
It has been said that God does not call the equipped – He equips the called
God calls, prepares and then sends. That pattern is clear in both the old and new testament times and in the lives of everyday Christians since. After my new birth in 1976, I was certain that I had been called to the ministry. I thought I should become a Chaplain in the Army. Just change the tank on my collar (the insignia for the Armor branch in the Army) for a Cross [the insignia for a protestant Chaplain]. Looking back now, I can see that becoming a Chaplain would have been a huge mistake.
Oh, it was a good thing, but like Moses, it was something that I chose to do in response to the call of God not what God was calling me to do.
Fortunately there were some very wise men that gave me council. One a chaplain, another a mature Christian officer. So, here I sit today, in Texas, a state that is not my own, just finishing my 20th year in a work that God has shaped me for.
In the book Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren wrote that God SHAPES each of us for the mission that He has planned for us. The word SHAPE is an acrostic. An acrostic is a word where each letter refers to another word. To say God SHAPES each of us is to say He prepares us with “S” - spiritual gifts, “H” - a heart or passion for the mission, “A” - natural abilities, “P” = a unique personality, and “E” – life experiences. All for His purposes, His glory and the good of others.
But there HAVE been times when I wondered why I can’t be most other people. But then I remember that “ (I am) GOD’S handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for (me) to do.” That is (Ephesians 2:10) It is easy to accept what the preceding 2 verses tell us … that “we are saved by grace through faith and not our own works”, not so easy to accept that we belong to God. He is the potter and we are the clay. His plans are bigger than my plans for my comfort or preferred occupation … God’s plans are eternal.
I am reminded that “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." That is Proverbs 16:9
I sometimes tell Martie, my wife, that I wish I could only do one thing, like work on a garbage truck. Those guys really only have to know two things. 1. Don’t get off the truck until it stops and 2. get back on the truck before it starts. (Actually there is more to it than that and they provide a great service to the community) But on September 12, 1976, I surrendered my life to God and from then on my life was no longer my own. When God calls us to lay our lives down, that means we must loosen our grip. To let go and let God. All of you reading this know that “letting go” can be a challenge. It was for Moses … it was for Peter .. it is for us.
Maybe your calling is not like mine. It might be that you are supposed to be a butcher, a baker or a candlestick maker, or a stay at home mom, or maybe ride on the back of a garbage truck - whatever. It does not mean that your life does not belong to God. You may not be called to lead a nation across a desert, but you have been called to live a life that brings glory and honor to God and lifts Jesus up as the resurrected King. To walk in obedience to the will of God and not follow your own way.
Listen, it’s a struggle … you will struggle so long as you are on this side of heaven … you will be tempted, like Lot's wife, is to “look back to Sodom” (Genesis 19:26). Or like Adam in the Garden, with the question tugging at your mind is “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1). Is this what I am supposed to be doing?
But there will be a still small voice that whispers to your heart .. “This is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21) In spite of those distractions, listening to the Spirit and pressing on is what the redeemed must do.
That would be you my redeemed friend!
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Rejoice! Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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