Mission Possible Blog : Hope for an unequally-yoked spouse: Jesus is Calling… Part 2

What exactly is a call? You might have a phone call, or a call to dinner, or how about a bad call during a ball game? Then there’s a call to action. Here we’re talking about a call that requires obedience. You might say “it’s a calling”. If your spouse is unsaved, you can begin praying now for them to have ears to hear the call.

In Matthew Chapter 11 Jesus is teaching the multitudes concerning John the Baptist. He states in verse 15, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Within the message to the church at Pergamos in the book of Revelation, verse 17 says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Holy Spirit speaks to those whose ears are attentive!

God has a plan for each of us. There are as many different types of callings as there are people, but two things are common: God’s timing and God’s choosing.

Here are some examples of the characteristics that identify one’s calling:

Take Abraham, for instance. He was instructed by God to take a giant leap of faith – one that included a perpetual blessing. God told him to, “Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) That’s pretty vague in nature, but adventurous, nonetheless. Abram, (renamed Abraham by God later on) heeded the call that God placed on his life. You can rightly say it was “his destiny” in the LORD.

Now jump ahead to I Samuel 3 and we’ll look at another call from God. Samuel was an answer to prayer, and a gift of faith by his mother. A few years after his birth, she dedicated him to God and left him with Eli the priest in Shiloh. One evening the LORD Himself called Samuel’s name. Little Samuel answered, “Here I am!” After running to Eli each of (3) times, and being told to go back to bed, Eli finally perceived that God was indeed calling Samuel to service for the Lord. The famous line, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” was the young boy’s eager response. His call was a tender Word spoken by God.

One of my favorite examples is Jonah. God didn’t mince words with him. Chapter 1 of Jonah states, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” It doesn’t sound much like an invitation, but rather an assignment. That call to Jonah was God specific and God direct. After spending (3) nights in a hotel room full of seaweed and whale juices, he followed God’s directive. Jonah complied with God’s call, but only after much complaining. God then used a plant, a worm, and the wind to teach him a lesson in compassion. His calling became his worst nightmare until he surrendered completely. Nonetheless, it was a call to serve.

Now, fast-forward to Matthew 4. After John the Baptist had been put in prison, Jesus left Nazareth and dwelt in Capernaum, near the sea in Galilee. As He was walking, He saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, who were fishermen. Chapter 1 of John tells us that Andrew, after hearing Jesus speak, began following Him. Jesus said to him (and the others) “What do you seek?”, and later, “Come and see.” Andrew immediately found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.” Jesus simply asked Andrew a question, and then bid him to “come”. That was his call.

“There comes the call of God in our lives also. The call of God can never be stated explicitly; it is implicit. The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him…God is working out His purposes.” (Oswald Chambers - My Utmost for His Highest)

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
http://www.Godmissionpossible.com