Devotion: God is calling you
Therefore I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2At that time Jesus said, “I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes Father, for this was your good pleasure.All things have been committed to me by the Father. No one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the son chooses to reveal him.Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:25-30
Paul’s urging to the Romans to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” was as simple as Paul could make it for the sake of new believers. To help them understand as young Christians, how to begin to put their lives in God’s hands. That they (as well as us today) must “begin our journey of faith” by submitting to our whole beings [mind, body, and soul] to God, ready to listen and obey His leading.
I believe God wants us to use the knowledge we gain from His scriptures and make a conscience choice to incorporate it into our lives. Knowing my faith was an important part of who I am, and more importantly who I wanted to grow to be, I felt the need to deepen my faith and learn to find a way to implement what God was teaching me to do. I often tease Pastor Eric that he became for me the prophet Eli as in the story of Samuel.
Samuel’s mother Hanna promised to bring young Samuel back to the temple to be of service to God because He had given her the opportunity to have a son. In first Samuel 3, we are told the story of how God called Samuel one night. Thinking his master Eli was calling him, he rushed to his side. “What do you need master?” Eli assured him he did not call him and encouraged him to go and lie down. Two more times Samuel heard the call and went to Eli’s side. Eli realized it was God calling Samuel and told him when he heard the voice again to say, “Speak Lord for thy servant is here.” In this way Samuel began to be used by God.
Three years ago I talked to Pastor Eric about the course we offer at church called “Faith Builders”. I wondered if indeed God was calling me to take this course. Having little to go on but the need to “feed” on the scriptures and pastor’s and Kathy’s encouragement, I launched into a study that would answer my prayers in so many ways. Every week we were taught to first prepare our hearts by “relaxing our minds” and focus on what we could learn by examining our own hearts and the talents God has given to each one of us.
As the weeks went by God opened our minds to possibilities we didn’t know existed. Not only with opportunities but the relationships that grew within the group. People grew to care deeply for each other as well as build their faith. In the 3 years since the class, our lives have been transformed and we are continually made hungry for more ways to apply God’s scripture to our lives. And I remain eternally grateful to my classmates then and subsequent members of future classes for this gift of study. I would encourage anyone feeling compelled that He IS calling you. Calling you to use what you have been given to more than just a KINDA-life and dwell in the richness He provides.
Heavenly Father thank you for the opportunities you bring to our lives that enrich us and encourage us to seek you further. Help us to seek these opportunities with a hungry heart so that Your kingdom may thrive. And others are brought to the knowledge of your love. ~AMEN~
Written by Fran Baatz