Call: October 15, 2012

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 15, 2012.

CALL

DEFINITION:

To cry out in a loud voice; to summon or invite to come; to announce authoritatively; proclaim; to cause to come; to make a request or demand; a divine summons.

SCRIPTURE:

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6.

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14.

"The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it." I Thessalonians 5:24.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

As Christians we have a most wonderful and reliable source to call on every moment of every day. God has promised to be with us through every trial and tribulation we have. And He has also promised to be with us through all the good times. All we have to do is call on Him and He is there for us. He is near and He can be found.

When we consider the word "CALL" as referred to in the scriptures there are several considerations for us.

In 1 Samuel chapter three we read of the account of God’s call to Samuel. From the time he was a young child Samuel had ministered in the temple under Eli, the high priest. Samuel was woken up in a dream and heard a voice calling his name. He first thought it was Eli, who was very old and Samuel thought he was calling because he needed him. But Eli told him to go back to his bed.

God called Samuel three times and after the third time Eli realized that it was the Lord calling and he told Samuel that if you are called again, respond by saying: "Speak Lord, for your servant hears." And that day Samuel was called to serve God as a prophet, priest and judge of Israel. When God calls you, are you ready to answer as Samuel did, "speak Lord your servant hears?"

God blesses those who answer His call, as Samuel did, and makes them a blessing to others. The scripture tells us that those who reject God's call will be held accountable. In Isaiah Chapter 66:4 it reads: "Because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke you did not hear." Then the Lord will bring judgment and "you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and wail for grief of spirit" (Isaiah 65:14). And in Psalms 81:11-12 we are told that when "My people would not heed my voice [call]; I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels." And finally in Jeremiah 7:13 and 15 we read that the Lord said: "but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, and so I will cast you out of My sight."

God is patient and gives us ample opportunity to respond to His call. When we continually reject His call, He lets us continue in our stubborn ways satisfying our evil desires but there are always consequences when we turn a deaf ear to God. We not only lose God's blessings on our life, but we bring God's judgment on our lives.

In contrast to those who do not respond to God's call we read about how the disciples responded [Mark 1 and 2] to the call of God. They did not ask questions. They immediately left what they were doing and followed Jesus. They were moved by the call of God and responded not knowing all that Jesus had for them. They responded as Samuel did --- YES LORD, HERE AM I.

And we are told in the book of Acts 16:9-10 how Paul responded to the vision calling him to Macedonia to preach the gospel. Paul answered the call of God without reservation. He got ready at once and left for Macedonia to preach the gospel.

When God calls we can be sure that "He is faithful and will do all that He has promised" (I Thessalonians 5:24). How we respond to God's call is a matter of our will. We can stubbornly cling to our will to do what we want to do or we can respond to God's call to follow His will for our life. Now it is your decision as to how you respond when God calls you.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 8:32.

And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

PRAYER:

I commit my life to You today, dear Lord, willing to answer Your call for my life. Give me an open heart to listen and a willing heart to respond. Unite my family as together we yield to Your call to follow You. Bless us, challenge us and lead us in the paths of Your righteousness today.