The concept of the "Call of God" is a profound theme woven throughout the Scriptures, illustrating God's sovereign initiative in reaching out to humanity for specific purposes. This divine call can manifest in various forms, including the call to salvation, service, and specific missions or tasks. The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who responded to God's call, each illustrating different aspects of His divine purpose and plan.

1. The Call to Salvation

The call to salvation is a universal invitation extended to all humanity. It is an expression of God's grace and desire for a restored relationship with His creation. In the New Testament, Jesus extends this call, saying, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This invitation is echoed in the epistles, where the Apostle Paul writes, "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13).

2. The Call to Service

Beyond salvation, God calls individuals to serve Him in various capacities. This call often involves a transformation of one's life and priorities. The prophet Isaiah's experience is a classic example: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah's response illustrates a willing heart ready to serve God's purposes.

3. The Call to Leadership

God's call to leadership is evident in the lives of many biblical figures. Moses, for instance, was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Despite his initial reluctance, God assured him, "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12). Similarly, David was anointed as king, a call that required patience and faithfulness before he assumed the throne (1 Samuel 16:12-13).

4. The Call to Prophecy

Prophets in the Bible were called to deliver God's messages to His people, often in challenging circumstances. Jeremiah's call highlights the divine selection and empowerment for this role: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). Despite his youth and inexperience, Jeremiah was equipped by God to fulfill his prophetic mission.

5. The Call to Apostleship

In the New Testament, the call to apostleship is exemplified in the lives of the twelve disciples and Paul. Jesus called His disciples with the simple yet profound invitation, "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19). Paul's dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus illustrates a transformative call to apostleship, as Jesus declared, "I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness" (Acts 26:16).

6. The Call to Holiness

The call to holiness is a recurring theme, urging believers to live lives set apart for God. Peter exhorts the early Christians, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:15). This call emphasizes the moral and spiritual transformation expected of those who belong to God.

7. The Call to Suffering

At times, God's call involves enduring suffering for His sake. The Apostle Paul, who faced numerous hardships, wrote, "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him" (Philippians 1:29). This aspect of the call underscores the cost of discipleship and the eternal perspective required to endure trials.

8. The Call to Witness

Believers are called to be witnesses of Christ's love and truth in the world. Jesus commissioned His followers, saying, "You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This call to witness is a mandate for evangelism and the spread of the Gospel.

The call of God, as illustrated in Scripture, is multifaceted and deeply personal. It requires a response of faith, obedience, and commitment, as individuals align their lives with God's divine purposes.Proverbs 9:3,4
She has sent forth her maidens: she cries on the highest places of the city,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 23:3-9
All therefore whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Force of Sundry Passages of Scripture Illustrated in Relation ...
... Chapter XIII."The Force of Sundry Passages of Scripture Illustrated in Relation
to ... Christ alone (is mentioned), I shall be able to call Him "God," as the ...
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Consecration to God --Illustrated by Abraham's Circumcision
... Secondly, THE NATURE OF THIS CONSECRATION as illustrated in this ... The Lord will, we
trust, call many of them by his ... At such time as the Spirit of God shall sow ...
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The Evolution of the Son or Word of God from the Father by a ...
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Reason was first in ... or Consciousness) [7808] which the Greeks call logos, by ...
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Of the Obstinacy of those Individuals who Impugn the Resurrection ...
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/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 25 of the obstinacy of.htm

Occasion of Writing. Relative Position of Jews and Gentiles ...
... Relative Position of Jews and Gentiles Illustrated. ... which formerly it used slavishly
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Consecration and Preservation.
... This meaning may be aptly illustrated from our Lord's ... be maintained in continual
preservation, in and for God. ... preserved in readiness for every call that God ...
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What God Will do for Us
... idea contained in this promise may be illustrated by the ... eaten enough, shall willingly
obey the call to leave ... The heart that lives near God, whether its years ...
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The Power of Christ Illustrated by the Resurrection
... The Power of Christ Illustrated by the Resurrection. ... God is able then to cause that
the same body which ... earth we wear in our humiliation, which we call a vile ...
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Predestination and Calling
... The effectual call may be illustrated in its sovereignty by the case of Zaccheus. ...
Why call him? Simply because the call of God comes to unworthy sinners. ...
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First Impressions
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had first ... To wickedness and vice I must, by the very call of God, be an ...
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Call: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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