God's Gifts and Calling are REAL!

The basis for my calling is rooted in the Scriptures. I was only 20 years old and in the first year of my Bible College when I heard God speak to me personally for the first time about my calling. I was kneeling by my bedside praying a typical prayer that went something like this: “God what am I going to do, where do you want me to go, how am I supposed to know.... (repeat often!) … in the midst of my prayer I heard a voice (not an audible voice), but deep in my mind I heard a voice which I know was not my own which said, “Luke 5:10”, I did not know this Scripture as one I had memorized. In my excitement and wonder I picked up my Bible and opened it up to the very page and I looked down immediately to see Luke 5:10 in front of me saying, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” I will never forget the experience. As a young man I was more struck with how I came to that Scripture which I consider to be the basis for my calling as a follower and minister of Jesus Christ. As an older man I am more struck with my own ongoing understanding of what that Scripture means, and how God in His wisdom has revealed to me over the years the depth of what following Him entails. Thinking about it now gives me comfort in knowing that He knows everything about me and He wants me to follow Him in service. Over the years this is not the only time that I have had this happen to me. My Bible is filled with God's promises and call to service. I will share one other passage that relates to my calling from Scripture and that is 1 Peter 5:1-2 the setting of Scripture where Peter appeals to the Elders as a fellow Elder to shepherd the flock of God. God spoke this Scripture to me in a similar fashion many years later. It is precious to me and in the midst of hard times and discouragement I have been able to revisit this “altar of remembrance” to be encouraged and find hope in God that He has not changed His mind about me or my calling. I am deeply grateful for the honoring of being an “under shepherd” that serves the “Great Shepherd” and someday I will stand before Him and he shall give me a crown for faithful service to His people. There is no greater calling, there is no greater purpose than to be God's tool for leading His people safely to the Master's Gate. Are you seeking out God's purposes and calling for your life? If you are not then I want to encourage you to do it! You are missing out on God's best for you! If you are I encourage you to keep on Asking, keep on Seeking, Keep on knocking... He will answer because HE is FAITHFUL!