The Call of God on the life of every true disciple of Christ

The Call of God on the life of every true disciple of Christ
Nature of calling
1. 
The call is never self appointed or imposed on God.  It is not even to be classified under volunteering.  The call is distinctly and exclusively from God.  First to general service ad secondly to specific service or services.
2.
All disciples of Christ are called to general service to the gospel by command.   Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8,  Isaiah 49:6,  Isaiah 66:19, Mark 16:15.  These references are but examples of the many scripture reference on this theme.
3.
This general call is not to action out of a theology of works, or motivation to earn salvation and approval from God.  The call is to obedience and work in the power of the Holy Spirit to God’s glory, credit and satisfaction by slaves (doulos) of Christ.  One must then also state that without such Spirit guided works there is no surety of salvation.  (James 2, 2 Tim 1:7-9). 
4.
Specific calling is also in the same formula as the general call with the difference that specific men and women  are called to specific works and duty.  Either short term callings or a lifelong calling or both.  So we get Philip’s call to evangelise the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26) or Paul’s lifelong call as the 13th or 14th Apostle, depending on your view of Judas Iscariot. (Romans 1:1, Acts 9).
5. 
Disciples of Christ all have the assignment of the general call as well as specific missions to accomplish.  Then also some will have a specific call which is lifelong or for a longer period subservient to the general call to service.  (2 Peter 1:1-4, Jude 1:1, 1 Peter 1:13-16, Hebrews 11:8)

Three Specific individuals Called

1. Jonah
a) Specific short term call
This prophet is  more famous for his call to a short-term mission than his lifelong call to the kings of the  Northern ten tribes or Ephraim as Isaiah calls them.  His mission to Nineveh was before the fall of the ten tribes of Israel by the hand of the Assyrians.  We can speculate about God’s reasons but that would be futile.  We do know that God used the Assyrians to destroy Israel.   The purpose of the call was to announce the doom of the Assyrians.  (Jonah 1:2).   As we know they repented and therefore God, in keeping with his perfect redemptive nature could not, and did not destroy them.  An interesting aspect is that while God calls many, and many rebel and are disobedient, God then does not always force his call.  Sometimes he does as in Jonah’s case.  It was a case of obey or perish. The final outcome of this mission was not permanent repentance by the Assyrians as God shows Jonah.  (Jonah 4:5-10).   This example is interesting as it shows the results of disobedience to God’s call.  Another example would be Samson.
b) Long term or lifelong call. 
The less well known call to Jonah was to the kings and nation of Israel. (The ten tribes).  There already existed a division which would grow to be irreconcilable between Judah and the Northern tribes.  Jonah was a prophet during the reigns of Jeroboam I and II.   There is no evidence of his work beyond a single verse.  (2Kings 14:25).  However, that verse is pregnant with meaning and much can be deduced from it.  It is certain that Jonah prophesied, and with that motivated Jeroboam I and II to attack and retake the territories lost.  The territories under Israel  was re-established as under the reign of king David.  We can therefore safely assume that Jonah was not as rebellious as is often postulated and generally obedient to his call as prophet to Israel.

2.  John Mark
Few realise that this young man (when we meet him) received a call.  He grew from being an assistant evangelist not respected by Paul to one Paul revered.  (Acts 13, Acts 15:37-38). He worked with the most notable Christians of the time being Barnabas, Paul and Peter.  (1 Peter 5:13, Colossians 4:10,  Acts 13, Acts 15:39, 2 Timothy 4:11).   So by all accounts Mark was successful in his calling as evangelist and it would seem this was a lifelong call.  He also had a specific call to write a gospel based on what Peter told him and preached.  Why was this call unique?  It had a double purpose.  First of all it was a history of the faith to be used in and around Rome.  Secondly, it was taken up in the New Testament.  This purpose of God I am quite certain Mark knew nothing about.  That is true of many specific calls.  Often those called can only see an immediate relevance to their call but are unaware of the secondary and oftentimes even greater plan of God than the initial call reveals at the time.  Peter was alive when this gospel was written and should Peter have objected to the content it would not have been redistributed by copying and would certainly not have been taken up in the New Testament.  So was Mark called to be an evangelist?  I have no doubts and his call was confirmed by his labours of the likes of Peter and Paul.  Was his writing of the gospel by a call on him from God?  I have no doubt about that either as it is a cornerstone in our Bibles.

3.  John the Baptist
Can a call be made before someone is born?  We do have several examples.  In fact Samson, already mentioned, as well as Samuel as well as others.  John, cousin of Christ is certainly such an example.  (Luke 1:5-25, Luke 3:1-18).  The purpose of his call had several elements.  First as a fulfilment of prophecy.  (Matthew 3:3).  Secondly to move hearts and minds to true repentance and baptism as a testimony to forgiveness of sin.  Thirdly to preach and prepare hearts  for the coming ministry of the Messiah.  At least some of John’s disciples became Apostles and some others became disciples/followers. (John 1:40-41).    

The function, characteristics and purpose of the call by God

1.  To give glory to God.
God is full of himself and his glory.  While it may seem strange as that is something  we are not supposed to be.  However, as C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer as well as Dr. L. Gioglio has stated – who would you want a perfect holy God to be full of?  What can the perfect holy God’s main concern be anything other than his glory?  The acting out of the call by man reveals the majesty and glory of God.  Isaiah 2:10-11  Go into the rocks and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and from His majestic splendour.  (11)  Human pride will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted on that day. (Holman Christian Standard Bible).

Moses understood it and in Exodus 33:18 we read; “Then Moses said, "Please, let me see Your glory."  (Holman Christian Standard Bible).
2. To stand in service of God
The call is always to be of service to God and not to serve man.  Mankind may be the beneficiary of the result but the first and primary function is to serve the will, plan and purpose of God.  From the calling of Moses to the prostitute Rahab and all others besides.

3.  Repentance and deliverance.
Specific calls are almost exclusively to exact repentance and restoration.  Esther, Gideon, Moses as Old Testament examples and certainly the New Testament calls are focused on the gospel and regeneration in Christ.  God’s focus for man has always been restoration and regeneration to populate his eternal presence and residence.

4.  The call is answered in trust and with faith  
This aspect is crucial.  God calls and uses people that are less than perfect and often people that we would not have considered as candidates.  Paul was a murderer and persecutor of the first believers.  Moses had developed a speech impediment.  Rahab was a prostitute.  Jonah was stubborn.  So we can reveal the shortcomings of the less than perfect people God called.  The individual called must act with complete trust and unwavering faith.  Abraham is used as a prime example and also as such in the New Testament (Galations 3:8).  Even where faith is wavering but the commitment to obedience sure, God will have is way.   He will confirm and strengthen the called one’s faith even when a fleece is put out.  (Gideon).  

5.  The call is general
While the specific calls must not be diminished in importance, the general call to every disciple of Christ must not and cannot be avoided.  It may be a lifelong specific calling within the general calling too.  Every individual must answer God’s call in his or her circumstances and environment.  God demands that and expects that.

6.  The call is not to works but works of faith
God’s call on all his people is not to works for the sake of works. (James 2).  God’s call is to works of faith within his will to his purposes and to his glory.

Conclusion
The call of God is integral in the life of every son of God or disciple of Christ in the New Testament context.   It is in fact the testimony of disciples of Christ that their lives give testimony to God’s call in the fruit their lives produce to God’s purpose, will and plan and to his glory. The success of a specific, general or lifelong call does not depend on the skills, suitability, experience or even the appearance of the individual.  It depends on the ability of God to use an individual despite any shortcomings.