Finding Some Answers to the Call

This is the last post in the “Answering the Call” series that has posted each Tuesday since January.

You might think that you don’t have the right skills or experience to serve God, but that is a worldly perspective on qualifications. How God choses people for certain jobs doesn’t usually fit the method used by the world. In the course of my career, I sat through dozens of job interviews where prospective employers grilled me to see if I met their qualifications. Sometimes I received a job offer, and other times I was told I did not meet their needs. Compare this to how Jesus chose two of his disciples:

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” That’s all Jesus said. There is no interview, no resume, no job application. Just a simple request followed by Peter and Andrews’s immediate answer. They dropped everything and followed Jesus. All we know at this point about Peter and Andrew is that they are fisherman, but Jesus knew they were who he wanted for disciples.

What exactly are the attributes God is looking for when he calls people to serve him? Often it seems it is not a resume full of experience and degrees. In fact, the Bible repeatedly points to people that seem to be the least qualified in worldly terms for the task God calls them to. Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29: 

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 

God wants people who are humble, not arrogant and self-sufficient. He wants people who are dependent on him and His strength. He wants people who have faith that God can do great things through them. He seeks people willing to humbly serve Him in obedience, even if the assigned task seems impossible.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. – 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)

Answering the Call Take-Aways

While writing this series of posts about being called by God, I’ve picked up some themes you can reflect on:

• It requires an immediate response
• We must be ready to listen and follow God’s instructions
• Something transformative is in the works
• The hearts of people are ready to hear what God has to say
• It’s okay to question what God is asking us to do
• Disobeying God’s call has consequences
• Sometimes God gives us a second chance to obey His call
• We usually don’t have all the information surrounding the purpose of God’s call
• God selects specific people for specific purposes
• The person God selects has the needed abilities to answer His call
• A calling can be a time of growth in your faith
• There will be a blessing in the call
• God will provide all you need to answer His call

Please share any take-aways you have from this series in a comment. Thanks for reading. Blessings to you.

© 2024, Chris G. Thelen