IN GOOD FAITH: When God Calls, Pt. 2

By PASTOR MARK MOLINA
Living Waters Church

Pastor Mark Molina

Pastor Mark Molina

When God calls us, does He call us individually? Does He call us specifically? Does He call us for a specific purpose? Is there a timetable to the plan of God for my life? Do my life circumstances affect the plan, purpose and call of God on my life?

These are all very real questions that most of us have to confront within the framework of our personal faith. There can be some personal reasons we have for disqualifying ourselves from service in our local church and our service to others. These are not the limitations that God sees. They are only the limitations we see.

Let’s look at the call of Samuel and see how the stage for his life was set.

“So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” I Samuel 1:9-11 NKJV).

The call of God to Samuel was set by the prayerful life of his mother. She had respect and reverence for God which was expressed in this prayer of promise back to Him. As parents, we can play a very powerful role in the call of God on the lives of our children.

“Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the LORD.’” I Samuel 1:19-20 (NKJV).

“So it came to pass in the process of time…” The promise of God comes to us in a “process of time.” Hannah knew that God had answered her prayer. She named Samuel in honor of the promise fulfilled. This is all very important. This is the beginning of Samuel’s life; it began with remembering the promise. There were two parts to this promise.

“…But will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…” God answered. Now she must respond. This mother’s faithfulness is the foundation for the call of God on the life of her son.

“Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, ‘Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever.’” I Samuel 1:21-22 (NKJV).

Hannah had every intention of keeping the promise she made to God for answering her prayer. How many times have we made a promise to God in a prayer? How many times has God answered us yet we failed in keeping our promise back to him? Did we ever realize that this might have an impact on our ability to hear the call of God in the future? Or in our minds do we think that all of the responsibility of keeping promises only belongs to God?

“And she said, ‘O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore, I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.’ So they worshiped the LORD there.” I Samuel 1:26-28 (NKJV).

Is God calling you? How will you respond? Your response will impact the rest of your life.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/10/10/in-good-faith-when-god-calls-pt-2/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.