Calling. I was reminded of this again late last week. And reminded that our environment makes a difference when we are calling someone verbally.
Let me explain. When it was very cold last week I needed to call a relative who was coming to the house. Supper time had changed and it was ready right then. Instead of using the cell, I just stood on the back deck and shouted. No problem. The person was able to hear me clearly even though they were still a block away and there were garages and houses in the road. Sound goes farther in cold weather. One of the few benefits. I was also reminded that it travels better over water. And all of that has to do with humidity and temperatures. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that I have a loud voice as well. There is an inverse relationship to this as well, and I know this from experience. In several care facilities where I have held services this was usually true. Those who were hardest of hearing sat right in the back of the chapels where we held church. I have not discovered the reasons for this.
Today we have many ways of calling attention to things we think are important. Social media sites do this - both the joyful and the hurtful. Traditional news media does this. And PSAs definitely grab our attention with annoying claxons and red panels. For example, Amber Alerts and grid warnings about excessive power usage come to mind as some of the most recent. God and Jesus use none of these. Theirs is a directed, personal approach to calling people forth. And they use criteria that are not standard as to whom is the best person for the job. Bible examples abound. Two that are important are in 1 Samuel 3 and 1 Samuel 16 where God is calling underage, undeveloped people to fulfill what will be mighty tasks. It can even extend past dying such as in 1 Samuel 28.
Jesus uses a direct approach. The first four disciples he picks are through direct contact and invitation. Mark 1 tells us of his choosing two sets of brothers; all of them are fishermen. They meet none of the standards the Pharisees have for building and running a church. There is no training in reading and writing languages. No training in biblical knowledge and interpretation and no examinations to pass, other than they are the ones that Jesus wants. Three of the four will form his executive and be at all the major events of his ministry.
All of us who serve in the church have a calling to use our gifts. For some, maintenance. For some, teaching. For some, worship leading and for some, preaching and leading people in the faith. As we continue in the season of growth with more and more light dawning on us, where are God and Jesus calling you to be? Pr. Scott
