Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” - Isaiah 6:8 NLT.
We will continue with the theme of calling and separation. As mentioned, we are in a season where God is calling and separating many of His people to Himself, for a specific work.
Today, we will look at the account of a few, who God called and separated for a specific work. We will look at those who willingly obeyed and answered the call and those who tried to run away or who made an excuse. Knowing what God has called you to can at first seem intimidating, due to the unknown, but know that God will be with you.
We will start with the life of Abraham. Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him – Genesis 12:1-2a, 4a. God called Abraham and he willingly obeyed. By faith, Abraham obeyed and left what was familiar to him – his country, his relatives and his father’s family. As a warning, do not let the comfort and the security of your present position cause you to miss out on the greater opportunities God has for you. Let go and obey God.
Let’s look at Isaiah. Isaiah did not count himself worthy for the call, but as we know, God is no respecter of persons. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Acts 10:34. In a vision, Isaiah saw the Lord. His encounter with God caused him to realize and acknowledge that he was sinful and unclean before God. That did not hinder God from calling and separating Isaiah unto Him for a work. However, before God used Isaiah, God cleansed him and told Isaiah, his sins were forgiven. It was necessary for God to cleanse Isaiah before he could fulfill the task to which God had called him to. Isaiah’s call was difficult, yet he fulfilled the work God called him to.
Next, we will look at the life of Jonah and how he responded to the call. Jonah was chosen by God to go to Nineveh to warn the people to repent of their wickedness. Jonah was reluctant and chose to run away from what God had commissioned him to do. Jonah disobeyed God and went in the opposite direction to Tarshish, instead of to Nineveh. Due to Jonah’s disobedience, he encountered difficulties and also put the lives of innocent people at risk. Eventually, Jonah obeyed God and preached to the people of Nineveh, who repented and was saved from judgement.
Sometimes, the work God calls us to is usually bigger than we can imagine and we may feel we do not measure up. And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house – Judges 6:14-15. The angel had already spoken to Gideon and told him who he was in the sight of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor – Judges 6:12. Yet Gideon kept looking at himself and not at God. There are times, we would need encouragement to fulfill the work God has called us to. And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man – Judges 6:16.
Know this, that God who called you is faithful and He will not leave you nor forsake you. Be obedient and answer the call. Like Isaiah, I pray your response will be, Here I am Lord, send me! Then, go and fulfill the work God has called you to.
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