We often talk about God’s calling, but this can be interpreted in so many different ways that it can be a subject many Christians prefer to avoid for fear of being thought fanatical or extremist. Heb 3:1 tells us ‘Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.’ If we have not experienced a miraculous calling such as Abraham or Moses did, we may feel that we are not qualified to share in this heavenly calling; as one friend of mine brought up in a Christian household wryly commented about her testimony, ‘mine was no road to Damascus.’ The New Testament does not distinguish between the stupendous or overtly supernatural callings experienced by some people and the fact that every single person in God’s family is called by God, however. As Peter reminds us, ‘you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’ (1 Pet 2:9) Whether we heard God’s call in a once-in-a-lifetime way or gradually came to faith through the witness of many people and over a period of time doesn’t really matter: what matters is that we have confirmed this calling by our surrender to God (see 2 Pet 1:10).
God calls us to salvation and to eternal life, ‘not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.’ (2 Tim 1:9-10) We are called to be set apart for God as this month’s prayer focus emphasises; called to live a life worthy of God’s calling (Eph 4:1). God wants us to live with hope (Eph 1:18, Eph 4:4) and Paul prays that ‘by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.’ (2 Thess 1:11) As we focus on the fact that our salvation is by grace, that we are called and chosen not because of our virtue, intelligence, strength or wealth but because God delights in us and longs for us to choose life, our hearts sing for joy!
‘My soul cries out, “Holy, holy”.
My heart is lost in Your beauty.
All hope is found in Your mercy.
You paid the price: now I am finally free.’ (‘Finally Free’, Rend Collective)