FAITH CAPSULE: Answering to God’s calling is serving God.
Genesis 37
It is written, “And the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” Just as God said to Israelites so His word speaks today to all His creation. Serving God is like journeying through the narrow gate which Jesus talked about stating, “Matthew 7:13-14 recorded, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Answering to God’s calling is serving God. For man to serve God will come with challenging difficulties, but God is certain to back man that answers diligently to His calling. God’s calling will break man that answers at the initial stage, but blessing will surely answer for man that answers obediently. The ones He breaks are meant to be blessed. His breaking comes along with blessing. (Jesus broke and blessed the bread of life) God will never leave man broken if man answers His calling faithfully. Book of 1Thessalonian 5:24 recorded promise in place for man that answers God’s calling, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” When God calls there be no prior arrangement or there be no announcement before God’s calling. In God’s calling, breaking comes before blessing. God called Joseph and he was broken before he was blessed.
Joseph was answering to the calling upon his life without knowing the challenges ahead. At age 17, Joseph was answering to Jacob’s (his father) errand when he entered the path to God’s calling upon his life. Jacob spoke to Joseph, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.” (Genesis 37:14) From the moment Joseph went answering to Jacob’s errand he wandered into the journey of his life without prior preparation or idea of what he was getting into.
The book of Psalm 105:17-22 shed light on the truth that Joseph’s journey was an answer to God’s plan and purpose without his knowing. Joseph had no preparation that takes him into his journey. It is written, “He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him, the ruler of the people let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions, to bind his princes at his pleasure, and teach his elders wisdom.”
God is awesome by the operation of His hand. Knowingly or unknowingly, have you been called by God? Your calling shall come, and God shall back you up.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to remain focus on the calling of your life.