ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Saturday February 4, 2017

“The Call of God”

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” – Revelation 17:14

Called by God

In theology and in many churches, there is always a discussion or even debates surrounding the topic of “Election and Predestination.” If you don’t know (or don’t care) about these issues or unsure about them, don’t worry, we will cover them later. What is important is the fact that any matter of controversy should be dealt with in light of the context of the “whole of Scripture” and doctrines which are closely related to it.

The call of God

We became Christians because God called us. Peter tells us:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9)

The same picture is often used in the pages of the New Testament. Our Lord Jesus Christ’s summons to men and women to enter the kingdom of God sometimes spoken of as a “call.” I came not to call the righteous, but sinners (Matthew 9:13). He does not mean to imply that his summons addresses itself to only a section of mankind, since all men stand under the call to repent and believe the gospel; but the call of Christ locks in to the hearts of men who are aware of the sinfulness and need it is such men who hear the voice of Christ summoning them. Others are deaf to his overtures. John records a similar idea in the picture of Christ as the good Shepherd:

2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 
(John 10:2-5)

This Day in Christian History:

February 4 February 1932 - Bakht Singh was baptized in Vancouver, Canada. Formerly a Sikh, he had grown up in India, hating and mocking Christians. While dedicating himself to Christ, Bakht Singh sensed that God was asking him to accept three principles. (1) He must live by faith, (2)He must ask no one for anything (not even a cup of coffee), and (3) He must make no plans on his own. Binding himself to these three requirements, he sailed back to India. Bakht Singh’s obedience to God, he won thousands of Indians to Christ and had a hand in planting many churches. So influential and beloved was he that six hundred thousand people turned out for his funeral

Memory Verse:

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will

- Ephesians 1:11

‘io, ‘i He‘ene ‘Afio ‘a ia ne fai ‘iate ia foki homau fili mōno tofi‘a, ‘o toka tu‘utu‘uni kimautolu ki ai, ‘o fakatatau ki he finangalo ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio, ‘a ia ‘oku ne ngāue‘i ‘a e ngaahi me‘a kotoa pē ‘i he ‘alunga ‘o e fakakaukau ‘o hono finangalo – ‘Efeso 1:11

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 5 – Exodus 1-15; Psalm 105, 114; Gal 5-6; Eph 1-3