ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tuesday February 7, 2017

“Ignoring His call?”

12 Therefore I will number you for the sword,

And you shall all bow down to the slaughter;

Because, when I called, you did not answer;

When I spoke, you did not hear,

But did evil before My eyes,

And chose that in which I do not delight.”

Isaiah 65:12

Called by God

A.        The Call of God

            1.  Old Testament Background – cont.

“Busy tone” – I believe that was the title of the Tongan love song from the 90’s or maybe early 2000’s. A suitor calling on the telephone only to find a busy tone. His disappointment in the song is rather comical. The point being that a “call” can go unnoticed, disregarded or ignored.

In yesterday’s devotional, we looked at God’s call, being used “to name” or “to summon.” For the most part, God’s call accompanies his command and power to bring about the desired result. In the legal sense, citizens occasionally receive notices from the court known as “summons.” These legal documents are binding and require a response. To disregard this legal “call” would invite legal consequences.

However, in today’s text, we come to a puzzling discovery. God issues a call that receives a “busy tone” from us. We are, apparently, preoccupied with something more important that keep us from responding to God’s call.

And now, because you have done all these works,” says the Lord, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, - Jeremiah 7:13

There is a strange ambiguity here. On the one hand, God’s call seems to have its own creative power. On the other hand, God opens his arms and his heart to the rebellious as he calls them, but his summons seems to fall empty to the ground and meet with no positive response. It is irresistible, and yet it seems to be rejectable.

In the New Testament, this same ambiguity persists. Jesus says that many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). Here, there seems to be a contrast between the larger number who receive the call and the smaller number who respond positively to it. By contrast in Paul’s letters, God’s ‘call’ is almost invariably seen as powerful and effective.

These two apparently different effects of calling are often described by the terms General Call and Effectual Call. We will pick up on these concepts next time.

Challenge:

How have you “ignored” or put off God’s call on your life? Whether for salvation or service? What “explanation” or justification can you give? Find time to sit quietly before God and allow His Spirit to search you and reveal to you what you where you are (status update) and what you need to do to live in “obedience”

This Day in Christian History:

February 7, 1945 – On this day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was transferred from Tegel to Buchenwald. A Lutheran minister, he had been arrested for working with the underground resistance and helping Jews to safety. Bonhoeffer’s noble words and daring actions were completely in keeping with his book The Cost of Discipleship in which he wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die” and “Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”

Memory Verse:

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

Ka ko kimoutolu ko e ha‘a fili, ko e tu‘unga taula‘eiki fakatu‘i, ko e kakai tapu, ko e fa‘ahinga ‘oku ma‘ane me‘a tonu, koe‘uhi ā ke mou ongoongoa atu ‘a e ngaahi lelei ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio, ‘a ia na‘a ne ui mai kimoutolu mei he po‘uli ki he maama fakaofo ‘a‘ana: - 1 Pita 2:9

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

Week 6 – Exodus 22-24; Psalm 109; Eph 6