“Am I called?” For some this is a haunting question. For others it may not even be on the radar (until now). I would like to offer a short and simple answer (for anyone who may be wondering now that you are reading this post): YES! Yes, you are called!

    If you are an unbeliever living in sin and rebellion against God, you are called--you are called by God through the good news of the sin-atoning death and life-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ to repent of your sins (Act 17:30). If you are burdened and worn out by your sin, guilt, and loneliness, you are called by the Son of God, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30)

If you are a believer you have been and are called by God:

1. Called to salvation--God has not only given you the gracious external call of the gospel, but by His Spirit He has brought the good news home to your heart and made you alive. As 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 says, “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first-fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2. Called to love--“Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Eph 5:2
3. Called to holiness--“As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” 1 Peter 1:15
4. Called to hope--“...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…” Eph 1:18
5. Called to serve--”If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you...I know whom I have chosen.” John 13:14-15; 18
6. Called to humility--”Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another...Humble yourselves…” 1 Peter 5:5-6(a)
7. Called to the Church--”I…. urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” (and what does that look like?) “...with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord one faith one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Eph 4:1-6
8. Called to prayer--”be constant in prayer” Romans 12:12(c)
9. Called to…. well, I trust you get the idea by now. Yes, you are called. The question is, “Are you answering the call with faith and obedience?” May God grant us ears to hear!

Jonah: Salvation Belongs to the Lord!

Think with me of the beloved account of Jonah and the great fish. Most of us are familiar with how the Lord called this Hebrew prophet to take God’s merciful message of judgment to Nineveh. Jonah, not liking the new job assignment, opted to run from the Lord by boarding a ship headed the other direction.

Now, one of the main truths that the book of Jonah emphasizes is the sovereignty of God. God is always in control; He always gets His way. Jonah would learn to offer an “AMEN” to Job’s statement, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). So, when Jonah ran God responded by sending a “great wind” and a “mighty tempest upon the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up” (Jonah 1:4). The sailors, fearing for their lives, threw off the cargo and cried out to their gods. Finally, out of desperation, they cast lots to see who was to blame for this deadly storm. The lot fell on Jonah.

Jonah proceeded to inform them of his rebellion and that they must throw him overboard if their lives were to be spared and the storm calmed. Sometimes, at this point in the narrative, we fail to realize the gravity of the situation. To be thrown overboard in such a violent sea meant death not salvation. But, the sovereign God had another plan: “And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17)

What was to be certain death became God’s surprising salvation. Surely, Jonah didn’t expect a big fish to swallow him, and surely, inside the fish his immediate response was not to sing out “Amazing Grace!” No, this was a surprising salvation. This rebellious prophet (like the rest of us) had to learn that “salvation belongs to the LORD!” (Jonah 2:9)

When we consider the gospel of the Lord Jesus, once again we see that our God works a surprising salvation for His people. Many in Jesus’ day did not see clearly that he was the Savior. Some said, “Isn’t that the carpenter’s son?” And others remarked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Not many believed that this Jesus, born to Mary and Joseph, was the promised Savior. In fact, Isaiah said of Jesus, “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him...a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Is. 53:2-3).  A good person? Yes. A great teacher? Certainly. A miracle worker? Indeed! But the divine Savior?....

The Person of salvation was a surprise, and the way of salvation was a surprise. The disciples manifest this by their confusion and grief when Jesus died. He had repeatedly told them that he must give his life as a ransom. He had told them that he would be lifted up (death by crucifixion) and that three days later he would rise again. But, they just did not get it. Only after Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, did they begin to see that Jesus’ death was God’s salvation for everyone who trusts in him. It was and is such a surprising salvation! Yet, it was God’s plan and purpose from eternity past (1 Pet 1:20). Surely, we marvel and humbly declare with Jonah, “Salvation belongs to the Lord!”