Through God's EyesSample

As we have learned from Day 3 about seeing stories from the Bible, God calls people to serve Him and move. Today, we will discuss the purpose of a call from God.

What does the “call of God” mean? The purpose of a call from God is to serve Him as we receive a calling from Him. It can test our faith if we doubt ourselves, which can turn into doubting God, too. We must remember our obedience, faith, and His promise that He is the same God who calls us to leave our family, homes, and home country.

God calls us to do missions. There are some stories to look through together in the Old Testament. God worked through three men He called: Joshua, Isaiah, and Jonah.

The first story we will start with is Joshua. God calls on Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River and take possession of the promised land. God guarantees victory in the military campaign and vows never to leave the Israelites so long as they obey his laws.

The second story is God calling Isaiah to ministry, wherein the prophet served as a kind of representative for all of God's people.

And the third story is when God calls Jonah to go to the people of Nineveh to speak to a prophet. Jonah’s call is for the benefit of Nineveh. When he rejects God’s guidance, not only do the people he was called to serve languish, but the people surrounding him suffer.

Now, what has happened in all of the stories we have watched? All three men have decided to follow God’s commands and obey Him. Sometimes, some will immediately respond and obey. Sometimes, some will still be stubborn but realize that God is calling them to obey.

The purpose of a call from God is to serve Him. In doing so, God may call us like Abraham, Moses, and Joshua to serve in different ways. The call of God is not always easy; we may suffer or be persecuted amid the call. We must understand that we can experience suffering and joy at the same time. We become more Christ-like and reflect his glory here on earth through our obedience to Christ. God is asking for our obedience when He calls us to do something.

What is He asking of you? From the responses of Joshua and Isaiah that we mentioned, what is God teaching you?