Our Great Call
A phone call can instantly change everything, sometimes for the good and others time for the bad. There are those calls that put a smile on your face and cause hope to arise: The call back after a first date, the thoughtful call saying you are loved, the call back for a desired job, the report of a clean bill of health, and your winning name in a prize drawing or game show. Then there are those calls that turn your world upside down: the loss of a loved one or tragedy, a bad health diagnosis, you’re being let go from your job, you’re being disowned.
The greatest call we answer to is the call of God.
A phone call can instantly change everything, sometimes for the good and others time for the bad. There are those calls that put a smile on your face and cause hope to arise: The call back after a first date, the thoughtful call saying you are loved, the call back for a desired job, the report of a clean bill of health, and your winning name in a prize drawing or game show. Then there are those calls that turn your world upside down: the loss of a loved one or tragedy, a bad health diagnosis, you’re being let go from your job, you’re being disowned.
The greatest call we answer to is the call of God.
Dictonary.com defines the word call:
To cry out in a loud voice; shout
To command or request to come; summon
To ask or invite to come
To communicate
To rouse from sleep as by a call; awaken
God has called to us in these ways! He cried out to us, summoned us, invited us and shouted to awaken us to be part of His Kingdom, his sons and daughters. His is the greatest call we ever received and the greatest call we answer to. We’ve been called for such a time as this.
Our Great Response
We can see in the Word how God called to Abraham, Moses and Samuel and their response.
Genesis 22:11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
In the middle of sacrificing his son Isaac, God calls to Abraham. Abraham responds and experiences the Lord as Provider, as God shows him a different sacrifice. The Lord releases the blessing over Abraham and his descendants… for multiplication and victory for the generations that come after him.
Exodus 3:4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flocks and God calls to him from the burning bush. Moses gets commissioned as a deliverer for the Israelites. The Lord was answering the cries of His oppressed people.
1 Samuel 3:10 Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
Samuel was the answer to the desperate prayer of his mother Hannah, who cried to God for children. She dedicated him to the Lord. This was the first time Samuel heard God’s voice and received a prophetic word. Samuel had a prophetic call on his life.
Our greatest response to the Lord is “Here am I.” I am praying that in 2017, we would surrender more to the Lord and that our ears would be very sensitive to His call. In every situation, pausing and asking the Lord, “Who do you want to be for me in this? How do You want to show up and use me? What fruits of the Spirit are available to me? Here I am, Lord to go where you tell me to go and be who you have called me to be.”
The world is waiting on us to be the glorious display of who God is.
The Called
We have been commanded to come
Eat of His banqueting table, one
He called us in our sleep
No longer one to weep
Invited to drink of His cup never dry
He holds each tear when we cry
On the Cross bore my shame
Gave me a new name
It’s all about His fame
Don’t want to play any games
He called, my response: Here am I
Lay down my life, die
It’s not I but you who lives in me
This one thing we can agree
Life is better on my knees
Thank you Lord for calling with that great plea
To walk with Father, Son, Holy Spirit three
To live a life eternally
I’ve been called for such a time as this
The mark I don’t intend to miss
I’ve been called to see the dead rise
To make the darkness hide
To lay hands on the sick revive
Everything I lay my hands to thrives
Called an apostle and friend
Called to stand til the end
Called of Jesus as saints
Where the world can put no taint
Won’t grow weary or faint
Live a life without constraints
I’ve responded to your shout
Don’t live in any doubt
You’re what my story is about
Right, left, no your route
For lost souls I scout
To tell them How Great thou Art
A Life a part from you is vanity
You formed Creation, humanity
Can’t walk this journey absently
How else would I keep my sanity
You carry me thru every tragedy
As a beloved bride, romantically
Praise you for the beckoning call
My response, my all
To my old man, I said goodbye
Seated in Heavenly places high
By your grace don’t have to try
My forever response here am I