As some of you know, we went “back home” yesterday, back to the neighborhood where we spent over 40 years of our married life. I had the blessing of sharing God’s word at our old church, and it was good to visit old friends. It was encouraging to see that the church is alive and well there, with young families making up a good part of the congregation.
My message concerned the call of God on the lives of individuals. I’d like to share a few highlights from that message for this week’s column.
There are at least two ways God calls people to himself. The first and most important is the call to salvation. This is a call to see our sinfulness, the need to confess that sin, to ask God’s forgiveness, and to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:9-13).
The second call of God to the believer, is to serve Him. For some, it might be a call to pastoral ministry, or to some mission field. But for the vast majority, it is to serve in the local church or maybe to just share your story with a neighbor or with your friends. I don’t believe anyone who has chosen to follow Christ has the option of sitting on the sidelines waiting for others to do the work.
Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1). Jesus’ command to his disciples is, “Come, follow me.”
Oh, God won’t force you to do anything. He has given us free will, but he might make it uncomfortable to be disobedient. Jonah ended up inside a big fish until he agreed to obey God. I believe no one is completely satisfied in this life unless he has Jesus in his heart, and is willfully serving God in some way.
In His service,
Pastor Jerry
sandhillspastor 
Posted by Dixie Laughlin on July 10, 2017 at 7:33 pm
Thanks for sharing…Must have been full filling to “go home” and see a church in good shape! There are so many who believe the word…but, sadly, we seem to have become the silent majority. I need to remember each day to spread his word. Others can’t see or read what is in our hearts so we have to show them or tell them. I’ll try harder! Thanks again!
Posted by sandhillspastor on July 10, 2017 at 8:17 pm
Good words Dixie. Thanks for your comment.