Will You Answer God's Call?
“Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. So Abram went…Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed…At that time, Canaanites were in the land. Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.”…He built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him.”
Genesis 12:1-2, 4, 6-7
Abram lives the opposite of the American Dream. He does not accumulate possessions then settle down into a life of ease while wrestling with God over how much to give of what he has acquired. He has ears to hear God, a heart to respond, and faith to believe that his loving God will lead him to a better place at age 75.
Consider his mindset. Are your best days behind you or ahead of you? Would you be willing to leave everything to go to a place God calls without directions, a definitive time frame, or a lot of dollars? How open are you to responding to your calling?
“Yahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times. You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.”
Psalms 12:6-7
David speaks to the character of God. He is trustworthy. He is faithful. If Warren Buffett tells you to invest you do it. How much more should we trust in the flawless, everlasting words of the Father calling us to a new kingdom identity of our own?
“He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread…A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him…In the way of righteousness is life; in its path there is no death.”Proverbs 12:11, 14, 28
The patterns of our culture shape our lives. We expect to work a set number of hours, be satisfied by what fills our stomachs or what we acquire, and know that at some point it all ends in death. God’s design is not limited by our understanding of what is possible. Wisdom does not put a boundary on our ability to become a blessing. In the kingdom there is life everlasting and purpose unfolding as we learn to participate in God’s kingdom. Where do I need to change the way I think about what satisfies my body but not my soul?
“Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Yah, Yahweh, is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation.” Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation. In that day you will say, “Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Declare his doings among the peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted! Sing to Yahweh, for he has done excellent things! Let this be known in all the earth!”
Isaiah 12:2-5
The life following Jesus is not meant to be boring or easy. Jesus wants to help us come alive experiencing the joy of our salvation and sing praises to the one who set us free. Has your joy been on display to others? Would others know you are singing praises for all God has done?
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations…In his name, the nations will hope.”
“One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.” But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” He stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12:47-50
Jesus models the kingdom mindset. His focus is on doing God’s will and responding with a heart to go where He is called like Abram.
Want to serve like Jesus? Want to follow Him? Look out at the world around you then help the one person you can help. Then help another. Then another. One heart, one life at a time, we can be who He made us to be. Not out of our qualifications or strength, but out of hearts of faith that He is worthy of our lives.