This call, while not insignificant, is still not as great a calling as the one we have been given. There is a call indeed to fill the vacant spots of another army. It is a calling from the Lord. He calls us to be soldiers, in His army. He Himself is the commander of this army and into battle we go. We go knowing that victory is at the end. We win.
I got up this morning with these thoughts, God needs me in this season, in this moment, in this minute, in this second. The Lord has need of me.
Jesus when He was twelve went with his earthly parents to celebrate the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. They were a days journey out and realized that Jesus was not with them as they were returning home. Three days later they found Him. In Luke chapter 2 the scene is described for us:
48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
They didn't understand this at the time and some of us don't understand this statement today. We do not understand the business of our Father. We don't know what He wants from us. We don't know what would compel Jesus at twelve to sit in the temple for three days listening and speaking. we don't know what God expects from us. We cant explain what God needs or worse yet, we cant see why he would even need us.
Rev. Charles Spurgeon in his message dated back to 1857 indicated that there was an undivided consecration to the will of the Father. The word must suggests that there is "...something in me which prevents me from doing other work. I feel an all-controlling, overwhelming influence which constrains me at all times and in every place to be about my Father's business; the spirit of high, holy, entire, sincere, determined consecration in heart to God." He goes on to explain that Jesus had in Him a spirit of obedience. He was also compelled by the sacred calling. Spurgeon says "He had a sacred call to the work which he had undertaken, and that secret call forced him on."
The Lord has need of you and I even if it may seem that no one understands. That call to serve Him must be our only motivation. We must be tunnelled vision to His purpose. We must be intentional and resistant to the plans the enemy has to derail, distract and ultimately destroy the purpose God has for our lives.
Great you say. I am in! Sign me up for the next thing, whatever that may be. Actually, what does He require of me? I am so glad you asked. I have been asking that very thing for a while now. God what do you need me to do? What is my purpose? What is my sacred calling?
Well, in searching I found what someone has termed the Micah mandate. It leaves no one out but this requirement is for every man woman and child of God. The how may look differently as we are not carbon copies of each other. However, the end result will be the same being about the Father's business compelled by a must that that over takes us as we serve Him. The bible says in Micah 6:8:
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?
But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.
I will say it again, the Lord has need of you. You too are useful and not expected to do any of this on your own. Look at the apostles and the disciples of the early church. They ministered often times together. It was an individual commitment but a team effort to bring about God's mandate. Paul, in the latter part of his ministry said to Timothy (2 Tim 4:9-11)
"9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry."
There is a place for you in the ministry of The King of Kings. He doesn't have to but He chooses to use you and I as instruments in His hands. He doesn't treat us as disposable garbage but valuable and worthy of His son's blood and scourging. The Lord has need of you. Will you say yes?
