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There is no unworthy way to be called to service by God

Feb. 22, 2009
Background Scripture: Isaiah 6
Devotional Reading: Revelation 4

I have previously paid tribute to the pastor of my youth, the Rev. Mark J. Steierwald, who demonstrated that one can be a serious disciple of Jesus Christ and still have fun. I had previously assumed that being a Christian meant being grimly serious.

Pastor Steierwald was also instrumental in my call to the ministry. I still vividly remember the day when one of my friends told me that our pastor had told him that he expected that I would choose the ministry. And I remember replying emphatically, “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!”

At the time I was studying in the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania, and the ministry never entered my mind.

A month or so later, however, while riding the commuter trolley between Philadelphia and Norristown, although I saw no visions nor heard a heavenly voice, I  surrendered to the conflict within and said, “Okay, Lord, if that’s what you want, that’s what I’ll do” – and I felt both a wall crumble within me and a sense of peace.

The call

I cite my own experience of God’s call because there is a great deal of confusion about what the “call of God” is and how it occurs. I have come to realize that God “calls” each of us to a vocation (calling) through which we can serve Him.

For a few, there may be voices, visions or mystical experiences, but for many others the call of God may come as a simple growing awareness of how we can serve the Lord. It may also be a time-release realization of how we can witness through the vocation we have already chosen.

As time goes on, we may find that our vocation is for a lifetime or is only the first of several vocations. The calling may be quite specific or general. But, please understand: The dramatic or mystical call is no more authentic or important than the conviction that arises out of the most pedestrian experiences.

The ministry to which I feel called is no higher a vocation than any other – just different. If your vocation isn’t as valuable in God’s sight as mine, you are not going about yours rightly.

My call began when a friend told me of my pastor’s expectation about me and it was confirmed in a convincing experience of which no one else on the trolley was aware. I don’t know how God calls you or to what, but I know that He does call you to serve Him.
Who will go?

The experience of Isaiah’s call to be a prophet in Isaiah 6 is instructive for us. First of all, he dates it to a particular time: “… in the year that King Uzziah died,” 724 B.C.* Isaiah could date his call, but many who are called cannot. God’s call to us comes in an infinitesimal variety of ways.

Second, his call came during an experience in the Temple in which he experienced the holiness of God. (God can use a temple or a trolley car.)

Third, Isaiah, overwhelmed with the holiness of God, was struck with the realization of his own unworthiness: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts!” (6:5).
Often the call comes with a realization of our unworthiness. It was that way with my call, but there was also the realization that God’s call is never based on our worthiness.

Finally, the call of God comes with the realization that we may reject it. In other words, it is an appeal to our free will: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (6:8). He wants us to be able to say with Isaiah, “Here am I; send me!”

And then it is that, understanding that it is God calling, we hear Him reply, “Go and say …” or “Do this …” or “Become that …!”
*Yes, I know the popular usage today is BCE (“before the Christian era”) but I’ll stay with B.C. and A.D.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.

2/18/2009