Saying Yes to God's Call

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. -1 Timothy 1:12-14 (NIV)

Paul realized his unworthiness of being called and thanked God for God's mercy.

Paul was so successful in sharing the gospel with the Gentiles. It would have been easy for him to "believe his own press clippings." But he never forgot that he was a sinner saved by grace. He never forgot how unworthy he had been to receive such a call. He never forgot to give thanks for God's mercy.

During this season of Advent, as we prepare our minds for the many ways that Christ comes, I am reminded of all the different times in scripture when God came to people that I might have avoided: people with questionable pasts, people who were unimpressive, uneducated, uncultured, and/or unlikely. Paul comes to mind. Mary, the mother of Jesus, also comes to mind in these days leading to Christmas.

Mary was from Nazareth, a town not even on most maps during Jesus' day, a town known for its peasants and farmers more than anything else. She was a seemingly insignificant woman from a seemingly insignificant family from a seemingly insignificant place. Indeed, as Nathaniel once asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" And yet God used Mary, granting her grace and favor, and she birthed the Savior of the world into the world.
 
None of us reading this devotional are worthy to be called by God to do something. The reasons NOT to call us are likely far more numerous than the reasons in favor of calling us. And yet God still calls each of us (yes, you too). And though it's not always the easiest or most enjoyable call, we should thank God for the call, in humility recognize our unworthiness to be called and we should seek to be faithful to the call. Just like Paul and Mary.

May God grant you the grace to hear the way that you're being called, the humility to recognize your unworthiness to be called, and the faithfulness to nevertheless say yes to the call.



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If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are i Timothy 5-6 and Titus 1-3. Sunday's readings are 2 Timothy 1-4. I'll be back on Monday with a devotional thought likely from Philemon and/or Hebrews 1-4.