Day 2
Read Acts 9:1-31; 11:19-29
The book of Acts first mentions Paul in connection with the stoning of Stephen. Paul was the young man at whose feet Stephen’s assailants laid their garments (Acts 7:58). At this point Luke referred to him by his Hebrew name Saul. He did not switch to Paul’s Roman name until the outset of Paul’s missionary journey (Acts 13:9). Paul’s connection with Stephen does not appear to be incidental. It was Stephen’s fellow Hellenists whom Paul targeted as a persecutor, and he may already have clashed with them before Stephen’s martyrdom.
Paul’s conversion or call is in Acts 9. Was Paul’s experience a conversion or is it a call? Paul was not converted from one religious group to another but remained a faithful Jew after his vision of Christ. You could understand that Paul’s experience was much like the call experience of the Old Testament prophets. However you look at it, it was a powerful moment for Paul.
Have you every experienced a conversion or call like Paul?
How did it affect you? How did it affect others around you?
If you haven’t, do you believe you will experience one? Why or why not?
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While my call was not as dramatic as Paul's, I do believe that I have had a call to serve Christ as a physician and through mission work. I believe that we have all been called to serve Him. I think that I have become aware of my calling over a long period of time and am still learning daily what it entails. My call has made me look more closely at little ways that I can serve him every day and Bigger ways that may take more time to develop and bring to fruition. I hope that it affects others around me by allowing them to see the Love of Christ through me.
ReplyDeleteI do not feel as if I have had a call nor a dramatic conversion. I feel I have been a Christian since birth. It has just been through life's experiences that I have come to know God in a more personal light. Some of those experiences have been very traumatic and others utterly joyful. Each and every one has brought me closer.My walk to Emmaus might be the closest thing I have had to to a calling but it was more like an awakening to everything I was missing in life.
ReplyDeleteOh I believe I have had several times in my life where there has been a call but the most recent one was when Mike and I made the decision to work with the youth in the Life Hurts God Heals program. I must say that at the time I wanted to say no when we were asked but realized that praying about it was the right thing to do. How could I say no to a God who has blessed me so richly in my life and continues to bless me! Many times He has other plans for us that might not be our ideal plan. These are the times I find I grow the most . . . when it's His plan!
ReplyDeleteI think the closest I've had to a "call" from God was when I felt led to become a Stephen Minister. I said no several times and finally knew I would not be doing what I felt He truly wanted for me were I do say no. I would have missed out on such blessings and making new friendships had I done it my way! My prayer had been to find my place in ministry at CUMC and that was it. So call? Yes, that was a definite call by God. He has blessed me so much throughout my entire life, saving me from so much pain, hard times, and heartache...Christ endured so mich more than I even have so what makes me think I can say no to Christ? I am continually finding ways in which I know He is calling, in my every day walk with Him. I pray I never want to quit listening and learning and heeding His call!
ReplyDeleteAfter my divorce in 96 I came back to Christ Church and hid out for a while. It was New Years Eve 1999 when God put on my heart to get involved with other Christians. I was hiding out upstairs in the balcony running the projectors. I got involved with Phoenix, became an officer in Phoenix and eventually became President. I met Barbara at Phoenix and we got married in 2002. Shortly after we got married and to my surprise as hers I felt God calling me to go into the ministry, which brought me to Seminary and on staff at CUMC. We are all called to be ministers and to spread the light of Christ, but we are all called to do it differently and reach different people.
ReplyDeleteI believe one of my callings has been in music. I have always sang, as far back as a child as I can remember, and in school and church choirs. There was always a physically felt need to sing, but I never had the self esteem to pursue it until my mid 30's. At this point I didnt know that God places desires/gifts in people, and that he qualifies the called. As I began to pursue a relationship with God, he
ReplyDeleteopened(continually opens) doors that allowed me to learn and grow while fulfilling this desire.
Hmm. Not too sure of a calling. But, I feel that I have been gently pushed at times. In the church, I would say pumpkin patch & greeter. I have felt nudges outside the church. In the community. I have helped out with friends and relatives, when at times, I really did not want to. One statement I use in my daily prayers, Lord please help me to be more like Jesus. Jesus took time to listen & help people. At times, I may stop & think, you need to be more like Jesus.
ReplyDeleteA neighbor child may ask me to change his flat on his bike. My mom may ask to go to lunch someplace that I don't really like. But I think, my act will make them happy. Yes, I do feel that I will be called. Hopefully I will have an open mind and be listening. :-)
I have a question... how do we distinguish God's call from the course of our every day lives? I like the idea that God might be calling me to do something, but I struggle with how that might sound/feel/happen. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteShannon, you have brought up a very good point! I too have struggled from time to time with that same thing but for me I feel that more times than not, when God has called me to do something it is usually when I really don't want to do it in the first place! Does that make sense? For instance, when we were asked to do the program with the youth I really really did not want to commit to 13 weeks in doing this but knew I had to pray about it first. God let me know clearly that this was something He wanted me to do even though in my heart I really did not want to do it. But I felt a peace about the decision He wanted for me and it turned out to be one of the biggest blessings of my life! I feel many times He asks us to step outside of our comfort zone when we are being called.
ReplyDeleteNow don't get me wrong, I do believe we can have a calling and it be something we truly want to do, but, for me more times than not it has usually been something that I've been resisting!
Thanks, Jan! That helps clarify things a little. I've been wondering about this question for a long time and have just never really had a good opportunity to talk to someone about it!
ReplyDeleteShannon, I agree with Jan that God sometimes will ask us to do something that we don't really want to do or don't feel equipped. If it is from God, he will equip us. But he also we place something in our hearts, that passion, compassion, that desire to do something. If you are not sure that it is from him or you, ask him. If that desire continues it is probably from him. If you are still not sure, ask him to let you know in another way. God communicates with us in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteI have not received a call or conversion like Paul. After all, how many people see a bright light that talks and strikes them blind? I have, however, felt a sense of urgency that I should do something. One of these is the ministry to the widowed in our church. This is such a valuable ministry! I have seen people go into the workshop sobbing and come out smiling. After ten years of widowhood I still attend support group meetings just to see everybody and find out how they are doing. They are a second family to me. Another is Upward Basketball. Having two grandchildren involved helps. My son coaches, My daughter-in-law has been a cheer coach. What a golden opportunity to introduce Jesus to these children at an early age and possibly bring other family members into the church. It has been a joy to follow this for the last two years, and I am ready for another one.
ReplyDeleteLike most people, I haven't been struck blind. But I do feel God leaning on me to do things--such as change my life when we moved from Colorado to California and to claim Jesus as my personal savior. Some examples: Going on a Mexico mission trip last year. Volunteering with the youth. Teaching Sunday School. I don't hear voices, but I get an urging to do something and I attribute that to God. Like Jim mentioned "if the desire continues..." In my case if the urging continues, I know God is leading on me to action.
ReplyDeleteI remember being called when I was about 12 to go up to the alter one Sunday evening to accept Jesus Christ as my personal saviour. I feel he has always been with me since. I have had tough times when I would sit by my window to ask for his help thru a divorce, a remariage, and sad times with other problems. I talk to God a lot about my life and others in my family, always asking him to lead me in Jesus footsteps and helping me make the right decisions. I have some family, uncle and aunt that I pray for because they refuse to believe. I am praying for my grandchildren to make good choices and stay focused on how much the Lord can help you in your life. Several members of my family have been called to the ministry, and it has been wonderful to see how much can be accomplished helping others.
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