In our life today, we can all witness being called to do something. Maybe you have been called to go in the military, becoming a nurse, lawyer, or whatever God’s given calling on your life. We must ask ourselves, when God call us will we answer? When He calls us will we listen? Or simply run? That sounds about right!! Sometimes we run from God’s calling on our life because we are afraid of change, we afraid of the responsibilities that come from answering your calling. I remember being called at a young age, but I rejected God’s calling on my life because I thought I had to be perfect. I had to learn that God uses people where they are despite their shortcomings and flaws. I can truly say, answering the call I actually started living life to the fullest and with joy.
God has a plan for our life and it involves commitment. Jesus calls us to follow Him, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? Luke 9:23-25
When the Lord calls you, you have to remember he chooses you to lead. Some are chosen to lead congregations, lead different organizations in the church, or lead God’s people. Abraham was a man who was called and chosen to lead his family to a new land. The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)
The Lord called Abram to leave behind his way of living for this new promised life. Abram answering his calling, demonstrated his obedience, and as a result God blessed him and his family. Abram, now called Abraham, was called to leave his home, retirement, his life style for the unknown. Just like Abraham, we are called to Sometimes to take risk. He will call us to sacrifice. Sometimes God will call us to consider someone else’s needs above our own. And sometimes he will call us to love or serve someone whom we’d simply rather not. These are some of the reason Abraham was chosen to lead because he was not selfish or disobedient. Some others who have been called and chosen to lead are Moses, Paul, Joshua, and Jesus himself. When we are chosen to lead, we have to be willingly to serve others before yourself, humble yourself, stay in the Word, and remain faithful. We must remember when God calls you take it seriously, endure the test that will come, and dedicate yourself to being about His business.
From the time we accepted Christ as our Savior, I believe we all are called to lead others to Christ. Although we may be called to lead, you may not be chosen to lead. This is very important for example, every minister that’s called cannot lead a church, and they are chosen to lead as a Pastor. God has ordained chosen leaders to lead and tend to his flock. Even in Matthew 22:14 it states, “Many are called but few are chosen.” In this parable Jesus states the story of a king who decided to have a wedding feast for his son. The king directs his servants “to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come” (Matt. 22:3) Since no one showed up the king sent his slaves to send out invitations to people who were not originally on the invitation list but these people showed up. One of the people that showed up was not wearing wedding garments so he was thrown out.
In conclusion, many have been invited but only a few were permitted to stay for the wedding. In other words, everyone is called, but some people refuse the invitation and are not chosen. This parable illustrates that God calls everyone and gives us the opportunity to respond but on the other hand to be chosen, we must respond to the call, using the power God gave us for that purpose. We are never called because of our works on earth but called according to God’s purpose for our life. God has a great work for our life if we answer His calling on our lives. Being called and chosen to lead is an invitation to do the will of God for one’s life. God invites us to spread the Gospel and to use us to do ministry. The question is Are We Making Ourselves Available for God’s plan for our life? What’s calling us and what are answering to?
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
By: Min. Jerell T. Wesley
