The Call Part 2

 "Many are called but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14....."Lord, we know we're among the called, grant that we're among the chosen." Eugene Peterson...."The three greatest virtues of men (and women) of God are: Humility, Humility and Humility." Martin Luther

Recently I wrote about the sacredness of His call upon our lives, not only concerning entering into full time ministry, but as concerns His universal call to be His witnesses and servants wherever we are. Some of my recent readings and devotionals have been centering not only our answering of His call, but our attitude towards it.

One of my Facebook friends recently posted a challenge asking, "How long can you talk about God without also saying I, me, or my?" This is a piercing question, because so much of what we call testimonies about His glory and work end up inserting ourselves into the center of the story. What I've heard too often is, "He enabled ME to do this," or "I prayed in faith and He worked a miracle." Intended or not, we give the impression that we were as much a key player in it all as He was and is. We may wish to lift His name up, but we lift up ours as well. God doesn't share His glory, especially with the spirit of pride, and pride works its way into our hearts in countless ways.

This is especially so in the lives of those that He has called into the ministry of preaching and pastoring. I will never forget something I read as a young preacher and which impacted me deeply. It was the story of a young man who was a candidate to come and pastor a church. He was fresh from seminary and was invited by the congregation to preach a message. As the story goes, he almost strutted into the pulpit, so confident was he of impressing his listeners with his knowledge and skill. He then commenced to stumble through his message and was anything but impressive. He almost slunk from the pulpit in humiliation. A wise old brother went to him, and in love said, "Young man, if you had entered the pulpit as humbled as you were when you left it, what might the Lord have been able to do through you?" How much humility is present in our answer to His call, on whatever level it comes?

Something I've seen in many through the years who have sought to enter into ministry, is a lack of awe and humility in the calling. I think too many miss the wonder, honor, and privilege he bestows upon us in His calling. It should overwhelmingly humble us and the humility needed in the call should only grow with time. Too many approach preaching, teaching, pastoring, as something they're entitled to, not entrusted with by the Creator of the Universe. I think this is a major reason so many begin but never continue in the call. Only the broken and contrite of heart and spirit will press on to the end.

I go back to Peterson's above quote. We are all of us called, but so few of us are chosen. Why? Could it be that we can never lose sight of ourselves in order that we may really see Him? John the Baptist said that he had to decrease in order that Christ might increase. How real is that attitude in us? Whatever it is He has called us to, what is our heart attitude towards it? Who is it that we really want to see glorified through it...Almighty God....or us? We may never enter a pulpit, but we will enter the call. How will we enter, press on, and end our calling in this realm? In humility or in pride? Only one receives honor from Him. Which marks you and me?

Blessings,
Pastor O