The Great Call-What have we missed?

As we continue to think about this great call that God placed in Abram's life, we have to remember that have many advantages that Abram did not have. 

Each morning, we can make a cup of joe, open our Bibles and journals, and draw our hearts close to God through prayer an scripture meditation. As believers living in the golden age of the Holy Spirit, we have the Spirit who speaks to us "teaching us all things". When we need spiritual guidance and counsel, we can easily make a phione call or meet with someone who has walked with God much longer than we have.

Now let's consider Abram. He lived before there was any written scripture at all. We know that Moses wrote the Torah (The first five books of the Bible) and Moses lived many generations AFTER Abram. Although God had spoken to men who lived before Abram (namely Noah), It had been since the garden of Eden that God had walked in relationship with His creation.

Yet, here was Abram dealing with a profound voice from an unseen God calling him to leave everything he knew and to follow His guidance to a land of promise. 

I can't speak for you, but in many ways I envy Abram. He may not have had the Bible, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or the benefit of spiritual mentors, but Abram spoke with God Himself.

Because none of these things were available to Abram, the scriptures teach that God appeared directly to Abram and spoke deeply into his heart. What an amazing experience that must have been!!! If you doubt it, just consider the results.

God appeared to Abram and called him into a deeper walk of faith and trust in Him. The scriptres tell us that Abram believed so strongly in God's call that he responded with obedience and lefy all he knew to journey to a new land filled with God's promises.

I imagine that Abram looked forward to His meetings with God and wondered when God would appear to him next.

We don't have to wait or wonder. We have God's word, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the time and availablity to seek God everyday. 

Do we make the most of this or do we waste our opportunities each day by being unfaithful to spend time with God each day? What have we missed because we haven't been faithful to spend time with Him each day?

If it has been a while since you talked with God, why don't you spend some time with him right now?

The Great Call-Return to The Lord

As we dive into this new sermon series, I want to start us off with one simple question...

What has God created you do to in life? What is your calling? 

One of the existential question every person struggles with in life is: why am I here? What is my purpose for living?

For those who don't have a relationship with God, who don't walk with Him...this question can be very intimidating, even depressing. But for those of us who have surrendered our heart and life to follow  God's plan for us, there is a clear answer to this question.

Jeremiah 29:11 is a much-loved passage that has been memorized throughout the ages...

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

This passage was written to the exiles in Babylon who believed that their hope had been crushed and that they had no future. Notice what God says in the peceding verse 10...

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 

Because of their idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, they had suffered the consequences of their sin. Jerusalm was destroyed and they were prisoners in exile on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Babylon. Even so, God still had a plan for them as a people, a plan to bring them home an to prosper them as a people.

Maybe you can identify with the Israelites. Maybe you are paying the consequences of some unwise choices and maybe you feel that God will not give you a second chance. Maybe you had a dream once, but that was too long ago and so much has happened. But notice what God says next...

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” 

Regardless of our past choices, of our current place in life...we can call on God and He will bring us back from our place of disobedience.  But that is the key...we must seek God with all that we are if we wish to be restored by His grace and mercy.

Then we can shout " Here I am God, what have you called me to do?"

Do you need to call out to God today? Do it right now and let God bring you back from your place of captivity onto His path for your life.