Knowing God through His Word — Part 13
It’s late Saturday night, but I feel strongly impelled to finish this and upload it. I can’t shake the thought that someone somewhere needs to read it. I wonder who it is.
Jesus is calling for you and for me. He calls the poor, the needy, the humble, weak and foolish.
In His story of the great banquet, the master told his servants,
Call [invite] the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. Luke 14:13
He calls us as loved and wanted children.
Jesus called the children to Himself, and said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. Luke 18:16 ,
He calls us all as sinners, as men and women who have made mistakes and fallen short of God’s love.
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32
He calls us to hear Him, to open our hearts and minds to His truth.
He called the people to Him again and said to them, Hear me all of you and understand.
Mark 7:14
He calls us to follow Him.
He called to the crowd and said to them, “ If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34
His call is upward. It is not depressing or degrading.
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
He calls us to turn from our own ways and the ways of the world and to receive His ways. He wants to give us the supernatural gift of the very same Holy Spirit Who filled Him with God’s love for all men.
Repent and be baptized. . .in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and . . . everyone the Lord our God calls to himself. Acts 2:38-39
He calls us to live the same kind of supernatural life of love that He lived. He calls us to do His works of mercy and compassion for others in need.
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. Matthew 10:1
He calls us to be His own family.
They will be called sons [and daughters] of the living God. Romans 9:26
He calls us for His own purpose.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
He calls us into unity with other believers, to live not in competition and contention but in the harmony, humility, gentleness, patience and love that fits His Body on earth.
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your calling. Ephesians 4:1-4
He calls us to peace and gratitude.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
He calls us into freedom.
For you were called to freedom. Galatians 5:13
He calls us to peace.
God has called you to peace. 1Corinthians 7:15.
He calls us into the grace of Christ.
[He]. . .called you in the grace of Christ. Galatians 1:6.
He calls us in holiness and then, by His great grace, He restores and establishes the purity we lost before we heard and answered His call.
For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 1Thessalonians 4:7
He calls us to be justified and glorified. Forgiven and accepted by Christ, our guilt is gone.
. . .and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:30
As we follow Jesus, He calls us into His Kingdom and glory.
Walk in manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:12
He calls us to the hope of a glorious inheritance. By the power of His indwelling Spirit, Jesus gives us His friendship, His presence, His peace and love, His comfort and guidance, His strength in our weakness and above all His divine love. These are a token, a seal as it were, of His promise of eternal life.
You may know the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18
His call is sure.
For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29
Jesus is calling us to look toward Him, to talk with Him, to share our joys and heartaches, our problems and hopes. As the song says,
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals he’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Will L. Thompson
Day by day, moment by moment, help us please to say “Yes” to Your call.
