He’s Calling You

This post was written specifically for the members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Bartimaeus was blind.  And noisy. He heard Jesus was nearby and, to get his attention, he started hollering. People nearby told him to hold down the noise. But he just got louder! And when Jesus noticed and asked for Bartimaeus, those same people changed their tune. They encouraged Bartimaeus with these words: “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you!” (Mark 10:49)

Those words also encourage me with three vital truths about calling.

The first truth is that calling is personal. “He’s calling you!” Notice the pronouns. It’s not just “a calling” or “callings.”  He – Jesus, the all-powerful Son of God, by whom the world was created – is calling me – ordinary, everyday, sinful me. Calling is personal; intensely personal.

God is calling you. He formed you in your mother’s womb and planned the days of your life (Ps. 139:13,16); he redeemed you and gives you eternal life (John 3:16); he’s given you spiritual gifts to use in your serving (I Cor. 12:7); he’s planned specific good works for you to do (Eph. 2:10).

Behind every call is a caller. Our reaction to a text or phone call or verbal request is determined by how much we value the person who sent or made it. So when God calls, we listen!

We’ll talk about the other two truths in our next reflections. This series of five reflections begins here.

Read:  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph. 2:10

Consider: The Greek word translated “handiwork” in Eph. 2:10 is the basis for our English word “poem.” You are God’s “poem,” a unique work of art. He didn’t do this for people to admire you, but to design you for serving others!

Pray: Dear God, thank you for calling me. Help me serve as you designed me, and are calling me, to serve. Amen.  

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