“The Calling.” The phrase almost sounds like the title for a horror story. You can almost imagine intense,

spooky music playing as the phone rings at 2:00 in the morning and the unsuspecting protagonist is

asleep. You know it is not going to be good news.

Sounds silly. But a lot of Christians treat God’s calling exactly the same way. They do not want to answer

the call because they assume it is not going to be good news.

My daughter felt this way about accepting God’s offer of salvation. She astutely announced at the age of

four or five that she did not want to be a Christian because that meant she had to do things God’s way.

She wasn’t going to become a Christian until she was ready to let Him have control.

We know in our mind and soul that God’s calling leads to life. But we hesitate.

Or we wonder just what God’s calling is. The calling includes:

• “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 CSB)
• Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27 CSB)
• “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20 CSB)
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The calling does sound scary on the surface. But we have these promises:

• “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30 CSB)
• He himself has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” Therefore, we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 CSB)
• “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 CSB)

The Lord is calling you. Don’t be afraid to answer His call.

By LaRaine Rice