Sometimes there is a real sense that a particular person is the
right man or woman for the job. For example, there are many who hope that Fabio
Capello is the man to bring about an improvement in the success rate of the
England football team. The sense of destiny of an individual is often clearer
when we look back. For example, Sir Winston Churchill, who served our nation
so effectively in the latter years of World War 2.
The Bible sometimes introduces us to individuals with a calling.
For example, the prophet Isaiah, who responds to God's call with the words "Here
I am, send me!" Additionally, Esther, whose marriage to a foreign king enabled
her to speak up on behalf of her own people when they faced the threat of destruction.
And one of her own people said to her "who knows but that you have come to royal
position for such a time as this."
With calling comes responsibility. Each of the four people that
I have mentioned faces or faced uncomfortable challenges. If Mr Capello fails,
the press will give him a hard time and he may lose his job. Sir Winston Churchill
lived through some very difficult times and decisions at great personal cost.
Isaiah's calling was to speak God's message to a rebellious and unreceptive
people. Esther risked her life by seeking to speak to the king without prior
invitation.
But what about us? We may feel that we are different from those
whom I have mentioned and yet they too are ordinary human beings and we too
can have a sense of calling or vocation in our lives.
I believe that our first calling is to respond to God's offer of
salvation and a renewed relationship with Him. The Bible encourages us that
God desires that we should all discover that relationship with Him, through
which we can know His presence and direction in both the good and bad times
of life.
The knowledge of God's direction or plan for us might be described
as our calling or vocation. These terms are sometimes used of a leading towards
certain professions, including the church, medicine and teaching. However, for
the Christian they could equally apply to our call to live and work and witness
as a Christian in our employment, our family, our community, our circumstances
(whatever they may be).
St Paul says, "…whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it
all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him"
(Colossians chapter 3, verse 17, NIV). May we each sense this calling and consider
our response.
This month we shall be celebrating Pentecost on May 11th and the
good news that when God calls Christians to a task He also equips them by His
Holy Spirit. I hope that you may be able to join us for our Pentecost services.
Vince Short.
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Phillip
Fowler,Web Verger St Barnabas Church, Istead Rise, Kent.
What
is Hope '08?
Hope
'08 is a huge opportunity to impact this nation like never before. Bringing
together every type of Christian denomination, organisation and movement, the
year long initiative plays on all their strengths to see lives transformed and
bring lasting change. It has the potential to be a catalyst, for much
more than a year, for lasting word and deed evangelism.