Are You Listening?

The call of God upon a life for full-time vocational ministry is an irrefutable and insatiable inward desire brought on by the Spirit through His Word to serve the Lord wherever and however He would determine without reservation or stipulation. This calling brings a person to the point of saying, “Lord, what will you have me to do”, as in the case of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3-6). Saul, or as we have come to know him, the Apostle Paul, welcomed the marching orders that would send him to the Gentiles and to stand before Kings (Acts 26:16-18).

Furthermore, the answer to God’s call in the life of Isaiah the prophet was “here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). His total surrender came upon the basis of an understanding of God’s glory and the prophet’s utter reliance upon God’s grace to cleanse him and use him (Isaiah 6:1-7).

The calling of God requires faithfulness in Christian living, such as, behaving oneself in a separated manner (i.e. choosing friends and associations discerningly - Titus 1:8), speaking in a controlled manner (choosing your words carefully - James 3:1-2), and serving others in a dedicated manner (choosing to love and respect sincerely - 1 Peter 5:1-3). Also, the calling of God requires faithfulness in Christian teaching. A minister must have an aptitude for teaching and a proclivity for studying God’s Word      (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:15). Preaching the Word accurately and truthfully with a loving spirit is of the highest priority                (2 Timothy 4:2).

God is still calling out choice servants to enter His field of service and become instrumental in shepherding His church. Now it is for those of His people to “pray the Lord of the harvest”, “commit . . . to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also”, and prepare ourselves to be “a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (Matthew 9:38;          2 Timothy 2:2; and 2 Timothy 2:15).