GOD’S CALLING TO BELIEVERS

BIBLE PASSAGE:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has
anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me
to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners.
(Isaiah 61:1)

MEDITATION:
Notice the first part of the scripture above, it reads,
    “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on ME…”
He didn’t say the Spirit was on anyone else; he said it was on him.
He doesn’t sound like someone who shirks responsibility, does he?
It wasn’t a matter of whether or not he was called to something he
wanted to do, what is important is, he accepted his calling from the
Lord; he was ready to do what the Lord wanted him to do.

He was given four encouraging tasks to perform:
    – Preach the good news to the poor.
    – Bind up the brokenhearted (repair their broken hearts).
    – Proclaim freedom for the captives.
    – Release the prisoners from darkness (give them hope).

He might have said to himself, or even to God,
    “What about me? Who is going to encourage me?”
But he didn’t. He had been called by the Lord and he
knew he was to serve the Him without any grumbling.

His attitude was much different than what we see in our society today,
wasn’t it? People today do not want to accept responsibility for their
actions, nor do many believers want to accept their calling from God.

When God gives us salvation, He also gives us at least one spiritual gift
to be used in serving Him. In addition, He gives us the Holy Spirit to help
us use the gift (or gifts) He has given us. However, there are many believers
who fail to accept their responsibility, and so their gift is collecting dust.
That doesn’t seem like a good return for God on His investment, does it?

What is the cause for blaming others and for refusing to accept
responsibility for our actions, or more importantly, for our failure
to obey God’s calling to serve Him?

Is it laziness?
    Do we feel that serving Him would take up too much of our time?

Is it selfishness?
    Do we allow our own desires to have a
    higher priority than what God wants of us?

Is it a lack of confidence?
    Do we feel we are incapable of doing what He wants us to do?

Is it a lack of faith?
    Do we feel we would fail and let Him down
    if we tried to do what He is called us to do?

Is it because we have a history of making excuses?
    Do we immediately look for reasons why we cannot serve Him,
    and how He must have made a wrong choice in choosing us?

We live in a world where many not only fail to accept responsibility for
their actions, but they also play the blame game for what they do. They
blame society, the environment, the way they were raised, the actions
of others, etc.

God knows the attitudes of the world we live in, yet He still calls
believers into service. Why would He do that? Paul gives us some
insight as to why God calls His people into action:
    How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
    And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not
    heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching
    to them?
    (Romans 10:14)

Some are called to be full-time ministers, but ALL believers are called
to serve in some capacity. Everyone has been given a spiritual gift and
the assistance of the Holy Spirit. We have no excuses and no one else
to blame if we fail to answer when He calls us to serve Him.

ACTION:
Has God given you salvation? If so, what spiritual gift has He given you?
How are you using your spiritual gift? Have you accepted the responsibility
to use your spiritual gift, or is it collecting dust? If you have not responded
to His calling and are actively using His gift to you, why not?

A question that every believer should ask themselves is,
    “Do I want to serve the Lord, and if not, then why not?”
How we answer that question will give us a better idea of the amount
of appreciation we truly have for God and the salvation He has given us.

Serving the Lord is not a laborious task that is something to be endured.
Serving God is an exciting journey where you never know what is around
the next corner. Not only did He give us salvation (which means we can
spend eternity with Him), but He also gave us the opportunity to show
our appreciation of His grace, by being a part of His ministry team. How
exciting is that? The omnipotent, almighty God wants YOU on HIS team.

Pray and ask the Lord to clearly show you the spiritual gift He has given you.
Then enlist in His service and begin a new exciting journey He has mapped
out especially for you. God loves you and wants you to find joy in your life.
One key to happiness is knowing that you are pleasing Him by using what
He has given you.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your gracious gift of salvation for me.
Thank You for Your promises that accompany salvation. Thank You for
Jesus and the sacrifice He made for my sins. Thank You for the Holy
Spirit You sent to help me in transforming from a ‘worldly and sinful’
person, to the ‘Godly and righteous’ person You want me to be. Thank
You for beginning Your sanctification of me so that my priorities, focus,
desires, attitudes, actions will be transformed from unrighteousness to
righteousness. Thank You for the spiritual gift You have given me to be
used in showing my gratitude for Your love, Your forgiveness, and the
gracious gifts You have given me. Thank You for considering me capable
and worthy to be called to serve You in a special area that is tailored for
the person You have created in me. Father, I want to accept responsibility
for answering the call You have given me, and with the help and guidance
of the Holy Spirit, I want to dedicate myself to serving You while I live out
my time here on earth. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness and fill me with
a righteousness that will inspire me to become more like Jesus, so that I
will obey You in the same manner that He did. I look forward to my new,
exciting, and obedient journey of pointing others toward Your Son, Jesus.”

BLOG: utvolwoody.com