A Personal Calling

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise: and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.” 1 Corinthians 1:26 – 28

We have been called by God to be His peculiar people. We are to turn from the opinions of men and cling to the law and to the testimony of Jesus Christ. We ought to shut out every worldly consideration and make our decision for eternity. In Paul’s calling, he knew who called him. He had no doubt for he knew the one who spoke to him was JESUS OF NAZARETH, the LONG LOOKED FOR MESSIAH, the CONSOLATION AND REDEEMER of Israel.

“As he pondered these things in his heart, Paul understood more and more clearly the meaning of his call, ‘to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.’ (1 Corinthians 1:1) His call had come, ?not of men, neither by map, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.’ (Galatians 1:1). The greatness of the work before him led him to give much study to the Holy Scriptures, in order that he might preach the gospel ?not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect’ ?but in demonstration of the spirit of power,’ that the faith of all who heard should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:4, 5) AA 127

As in the disciples of Jesus, they heeded the call of the Holy Spirit when John the Baptist was preaching. They recognized the voice of the heavenly teacher. As they came one by one, they called their friends and they were the first of Christ’s ministry.

“With the calling of John and Andrew and Simon, of Phillip and Nathaniel, began the foundation of the Christian Church. John directed two of his disciples to Christ. Then one of this, Andrew, found his brother, and called him to the Saviour. Phillip was then called, and went in search of Nathaniel. These examples should teach us the importance of personal effort, of making direct appeals to our kindred, friends and neighbors.” (DA 141)

We have also been called as any other disciple of Jesus. They were called from different walks of life, i.e. some being fishermen, some tax collectors, and now Jesus is calling us from certain sins we are clinging to. We are called from worldly pleasures, and from the works of the flesh, which are evident: “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions and dissensions.” (Galatians 5:19, 20). We are to give these heavy burdens to Christ to carry them for us, for He has promised so.

We need to feel and see the glory of serving Christ; we need to exalt principle and elevate the Christian standard; we need to store our minds with the rich promises, the warning, the counsels and threatening of God’s word; that we may fairly represent at home, in the church and in our business the purity and elevated character. As the disciples heeded the full surrender to Christ, men of highest education in the arts and sciences learned precious lessons from them, as Christians in a humble life. who were designated by the world as unlearned. But the disciples had obtained an education in the highest of all schools.

Being unlearned, but lowly of heart and humble, Christ chose them high positions to preach the gospel. As to Peter, the work given him was to feed the lambs; it called him to minister to those who were young in faith, to teach the ignorant, to open the scripture for them, and to educate them for usefulness in Christ’s service. Heretofore Peter had not been fitted to do this, or even to understand its importance, but this was the work which Jesus now called upon him to do. For this work his own experience of suffering and repentance had prepared him. To the other disciples the Saviour said, “Go… teach all nations, whereby they were to start from Jerusalem where He was denied. So they were to preach, heal the sick, and do signs and wonders since all these were possible because they were with the Lord who worked with them, “confirming the work with signs following.” (Mark 16:20)

TO WHAT IS HE CALLING US?

“So I run straight towards the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Jesus Christ to the life above.” (Philippians 3:14) O that everyone might make choice of the heavenly gift, become an heir of God to that inheritance whose title is secure from any destroyer, where it is imperishable. No fire or flood will destroy it, no thief to destroy it, no moth or rust corrupt it, for it is in the keeping of God. We are to press, urge our way toward the mark for the prize of our high calling is in Christ Jesus.

God calls us for a full surrender, of all that we have and are. Let us all who profess godliness seek to put away every wrong and confess to God every secret sin, and afflict the soul before Him, for God reads all, and searches out every hidden thing in ourselves. Instead of hiding our sins, let us make a transformation of our minds to hope for the imperishable things of Heaven.

“The call to place all on the altar of service comes to each one. We are not all asked to serve as Elisha served, nor are we bidden to sell everything we have; but God asks us to give His service the first place in our lives, to allow no day to pass without doing something to advance His work on earth. He does not expect from all the same kind of service. One may be called to minister in a foreign land; another may be asked to give of his means for support of gospel work. God accepts the offering of each. It is the consecration of the life and all its interests that is necessary. Those who make this consecration will hear and obey the call of Heaven.”

“To everyone who becomes a partaker of His grace, the Lord appoints a work for others. Individually we are to stand in our lot, saying ?Here am I, send me.’ Whether a man be a minister of the word or a physician, whether he be a merchant or farmer, professional man or mechanic, the responsibility rests upon him. It is his work to reveal to others the gospel of their salvation. Every enterprise in which he engages should be a means to this end.” (PK 221 – 222)

WHERE IS OUR DESTINY?

“…For a person is a slave of anything that has conquered him.” (2 Peter 2:19) Our first parents became Satan’s captives, the dominion which they held, passed to their conqueror (Satan). “Thus Satan became the god of the world.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) He took the dominion over the earth, which was originally given to our first parents, Adam and Eve. As they yielded to Satan’s grounds, so the whole world was under the power of the wicked one (Satan) and was to be restored by the plan of redemption.

As in the example of the disciples of Jesus, is represented two classes, i.e. John and Judas. “John and Judas are representatives of those who profess to be Christ’s followers. Both these disciples had the same opportunities to study and follow the divine pattern. Both were privileged to listen to His teaching. Each possessed serious defects of character; and each had access to the divine grace that transforms character. But while one in humility was learning of Jesus, the other revealed that he was not a doer of the word, but a hearer only. One, daily dying to self and overcoming sin, was sanctified through the truth; the other, resisting the transforming power of grace and indulging self desires, was brought into bondage to Satan.” (AA 558)

“Israel had chosen her own way. They had not builded according to the pattern; but Christ, the true temple for God’s indwelling, molded every detail of His earthly life in harmony with God’s ideal. He said, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O my God: Yea thy law is within my heart.’ (Psalms 40:8) So our characters are to be builded ‘for an habitation of God through the Spirit,’ (Ephesians 2:22) and we are to make all things according to the pattern, even Him who suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” (Heb. 8:5; 1 Peter 2:21)

“The words of Christ teach that we should regard ourselves inseparably bound to our Father in Heaven. Whatever our position, we are dependent upon God, who holds all destinies in His hands. He has appointed us our work and has endowed us with faculties and means for that work. So long as we surrender the will to God, and trust in His strength and wisdom, we shall be guided in safe paths, to fulfill our appointed part in His great plan. But the one who depends upon his own wisdom and power in separating himself from God, instead of working in unison with Christ, he is fulfilling the purpose of the enemy of God and man.” (DA 209)

Our call is a problem, which we must individually work out for ourselves. No one can work out the call for another; we each have a part to act in deciding our own destiny. We are God’s free agents, and each one must work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, while God works in him to do His good pleasure. For instance, students should feel their responsibility in the matter of making their school life a success. They should bend every effort in the right direction, so that they may not disappoint their parents who work hard to keep them in school. We are also to make every effort to work for the perfection of our call(s), which has been sealed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

We are now living in the great Day of Atonement. In the typical service while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner all who would have their names retained in the book of life, should now in the few remaining days of probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart… We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close searching scrutiny as found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

“So then, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be open to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10, 11) Let us take heed to the instructions given by God, not to be in two classes of Esau and Jacob, for they had been instructed in the knowledge of God, and both were free to walk in his commandments and to receive his favour, but they had not both chosen to do this. “There is no election but their own by which every soul will be elected to eternal life – obedience to His commandments, through faith in Christ.”
The King has invited/called all to the marriage feast of his son. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” May the Lord by His grace help us be among the chosen few, after the call.
AMEN.

Naom K. Riang’a, Nairobi, Kenya