“I was in my front yard yesterday talking with a neighbor,” Stan began. “His cell phone rang, he looked at the caller ID, and ignored the call.”
Continuing, he said, “I told him to go ahead and take the call, but he said that the person would leave a message or call back later.”
“He probably knew by who was calling that it wasn’t urgent,” I responded.
“That’s right,” Stan replied, “but when his phone rang from the same person about a minute later, my neighbor said something like ‘it must be important’. He answered and it was. He didn’t tell me what it was all about, none of my business, but he said he needed to get home.”
“Later,” Stan continued, “I was thinking about what had happened and I saw that the apostle Peter was writing about the same thing in his first letter.”
“How so?” I asked.
“Peter wrote about answering the call from God,” Stan responded.
“As in being called into the ministry,” I replied, “or something like that?”
“No,” Stan said, “I think Peter was writing more about the basic call to become a Christian by accepting the free provision of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.”
Continuing, he said, “While Peter was writing in the specific context of having my faith tested through suffering, the end result of answering the call of God will be that I will be transformed from who I was when I first answered the call to become a Christian.”
“So,” I replied, “two different callings? One at the beginning, and one continuing?”
“That’s what I see here,” Stan responded. “Answering the first call results in being with God forever in eternity when it’s time. Then there is a second call concerning who and what I am going to be on this side of eternity while God does what He is capable of doing.”
“And,” he continued, “it is essential for me and my faith walk with God to allow Him to do all that He wants to do in and through me. Peter lists some pretty exciting things that will happen if that is my choice.”
“Like what?”
“Perfection, confirmation, strengthening, and being established in the God of all grace.”
“Wow!” I responded. “Great list.”
“It is, indeed,” Stan said. “And it all comes from answering the call.”
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And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you, out of your love, grace, and mercy, called me to accept the free gift of salvation through Christ Jesus so that I can look forward to spending eternity with you when it is time. Thank you, too, for the calling to be who and what you intend for me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I ignore that call because I want to be what I want to be apart from you. Please forgive me. And please, Father, help me in following your lead in choosing to receive, accept, and embrace all you have for me while you keep me on this side of eternity. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Things to think (and journal) about:
1. What is your biggest take-away from this devotional?
2. What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?
3. What is God saying to you to do personally?
4. Who can you share this with to make a difference?
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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
Waiting for the Train 