What other scriptures highlight God's calling and our response to it? Setting the Scene with 1 Chronicles 28:10 “Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.” David’s charge to Solomon sets the pattern: God calls; we respond in strength and obedience. Scripture echoes this theme again and again. A Thread That Runs Through Scripture • Exodus 3:4 — Moses hears his name twice and replies, “Here I am.” God’s call meets a willing (yet hesitant) servant. • 1 Samuel 3:10 — Young Samuel says, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” Availability matters more than age or experience. • Isaiah 6:8 — “Here am I. Send me!” The prophet’s immediate response after cleansing underscores readiness. • Matthew 4:19 — “Come, follow Me …” Jesus calls fishermen who “at once” leave nets and boats. Prompt obedience marks true discipleship. • John 15:16 — “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit.” Divine initiative leads to lasting impact. • Acts 9:15 — God tells Ananias about Paul: “He is My chosen instrument.” Even former opponents can become mighty servants. God’s Corporate Call to His People • Exodus 19:5-6 — Israel is invited to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” • 1 Peter 2:9 — Fulfilled in the church: “a chosen people … to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness.” • Ephesians 4:1 — “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received.” Calling shapes community behavior. • Philippians 3:14 — We “press on toward the goal” tied to God’s upward call. Perseverance is part of our collective identity. Why God’s Call Is Irrevocable • Romans 11:29 — “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” His purposes stand despite human weakness. • 2 Timothy 1:9 — “He has saved us and called us to a holy calling … by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.” The call rests on grace, not performance. Hallmarks of an Authentic Response • Faith-filled courage: Joshua 1:9; Haggai 2:4 — “Be strong … and work, for I am with you.” • Whole-life surrender: Romans 12:1 — Offer yourselves as living sacrifices. • Active obedience: James 1:22 — “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” What “Be Strong and Do It” Looks Like Today 1. Recognize the Caller — Regular time in the Word tunes the ear to His voice. 2. Embrace the Task — Whether building a temple (Solomon) or mending a relationship, God-given assignments matter. 3. Rely on His Presence — The same Lord who calls equips (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). 4. Persevere — Press on like Paul, confident that “He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). |
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