If we are called by God, we still have free choice in accepting or rejecting that call, just as we have free choice in accepting or rejecting the salvation that He offers us all. He may place us in a particular position, but we can choose not to follow His biddings. Yes, He wants us to do specific things for Him, just as much as He calls us to become like Him.
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God’s election to a specific task is part of His plan for our salvation. By doing what He calls us to do, we reveal in our lives the reality of the salvation He has given us.
King Saul was given the position of king. Unfortunately, Saul never fully gave his heart to God, despite the task he was given. Just because someone is called by God to do something special for Him doesn’t mean that this person will embrace God. Our free will remains the determining factor, and if we don’t follow God’s leading, we can lose everything.
Read Exod. 3:1-22, NKJV and Exod. 4:1-31, NKJV. What does this teach us about what happens when the Lord calls someone for a task?
Our response can be like that of Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s, who went without questioning, or we can be like Moses, who had objections and excuses. Moses went in the end, but not without trying to get out of it. He objected, claiming that he was not good enough, a nobody, and didn’t have an important position. So how could Pharaoh possibly listen to him? He was also worried that the Jewish people would not believe him or listen to him, and the work would be for naught. Additionally, he complained that he was not qualified-“I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exod. 4:10, NKJV)-and didn’t have the needed skills. Lastly, he pointedly asked God to send someone else. And yet, as we read the story of Moses, we learn what a powerful, though flawed, leader Moses became. He was someone who faithfully did the task that the Lord had called him to do.
| What excuses do we often find that keep us from doing the things we know the Lord would have us do? |
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