Monday, November 9, 2009

What Does God Call You?

1 Samuel 3:1-4

1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.


What Does God call you?

My son and I were having a conversation about names. We were talking about how different people in your life may call you by different names.

For example, family calls me by my ‘pet’ name while almost everyone else calls me by my first name. My mother almost exclusively uses my middle name. As a matter of fact, as a kid, I knew I was in trouble when she used my first name. True for anyone else?

Some people have given me completely different names. I’ve been called everything from Stevie to Steffie and from Stacy to Yolanda (Yolanda?). But my son asked me a beautifully simple, profound question: “Mommy, what does God call you?”

I was driving when he asked, so my answer wasn’t very considered. I told him God can call me anything He wants, just so long as He calls me. But the question stuck with me all day.

What does God call me?

You know things about people based on how they call each other. Intimate friends and family have names that only they are allowed to use with each other. In the military, people address each other based on rank, even if they happen to be close friends. People who have been with Mr. Obama for years now call him Mr. President.

Names are important, but how you’re called can be even more important.

I don’t remember every word my child has said, but I remember when he first called me “Mommy.” It was more than a name. At that moment and from then on, I became something more in his life than just the person who changed his stinky diapers. I was different than anyone else in his life. I became “Mommy” with all that the title includes.

I used to work with an adoption agency and we held special ceremonies to celebrate when the adoption was final. One of the high points of the ceremony was when the kids would write their new name on the wall in a demonstration that they had become part of a family. They had a new name and having that name would forever change their lives.

What does God call me? He calls me:

Chosen, peculiar, royal and a priest
1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Sanctified and justified
1 Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

A Son
1 John 3:1-2 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.


His
John 17:9 - I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Loved
John 17:23 - I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

And He calls me healed, precious, victorious, blessed, prosperous, protected, finding mercy, blameless before Him, and so much more.

These are the names God calls me...and you...and all who believe on His Word.

What does God call you?

Ephesians 2:18-19

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;


Peace.

- Sis. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.

Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com

Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor

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