The Daily Call

The term "calling" is often used vaguely in Christian circles, even as the "will" of God is left to the imagination.  The call of God is multifaceted like His will, and we do not need to be ignorant of either.  God's Word speaks specifically on the will of God and how Jesus called people to follow Him.  Os Guiness wrote an excellent book titled "The Call" which speaks in detail of the general call to believers and specific calls God makes upon His people.

I appreciate the clarity of the Bible, how God spells out the truth for us in black and white.  Last night I was reading through 1 Peter 2 with the family, and I was blessed to read of calls of God we often don't hear about.  People talk about being "called" as a missionary or a pastor, but answering the call of God for all believers is the path to answering every specific call God makes.  For example, God has called all Christians to "love one another."  The man convinced he has been called to pastoral ministry is in no way precluded or hindered from loving others, even if he is not yet ordained by men.  In fulfilling a general call to love others he will be more suited to answer the specific call to be a pastor.

1 Peter 2:9 says God has "...called you [Christians] out of darkness and into His marvellous light."  We are called to forsake sin and wickedness and enter into Jesus the Light of Life.  In the passage Peter explains specifically what sins to avoid and how we ought to submit to God and those in authority.  We should all take God's Word personally, and the sharp truth of God's call pierces home in 1 Peter 2:18-25:  "Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

Did you see what followers of Jesus are called to?  We are called to do good as Jesus did, and should we suffer for it to take it patiently.  Christian, this is what you are called to!  Consider how Jesus only did good - speaking the truth in love, healing people, visiting outcasts, the Servant of all - and boy did He suffer!  When Jesus suffered, He didn't deserve to.  When people turned against Him He continued to speak righteously, did not treat others like He was shamefully treated, did not threaten, but trusted God to the point of dying on Calvary's cross.  This sheds light on the profound meaning the words of Jesus in Luke 9:23:  "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."  The call of Christ is to deny self and do as Jesus did.  Jesus took up the cross once for all, but we are to take up the cross daily.  Daily we are to do good even if it means suffering, and when we suffer we are to endure patiently, trusting God will make us fruitful even in death.

We were all once like wayward sheep, but Jesus has called us to Himself.  We have all suffered the consequences of our foolish decisions and stubborn rebellion, but when we suffer for doing good we can rejoice to identify with our Good Shepherd.  We are exhorted to fix our eyes beyond our suffering to Him who suffered for us in Hebrews 12:3:  "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."  Jesus endured, and since the Holy Spirit dwells within us we too can endure by God's grace.  The next time you feel your suffering is unfair, remember the gracious call of God.  Consider what hostility Jesus endured and the end of it:  His resurrection and glorification!  This is the future God has for us experienced today with our risen LORD.