Preschool
Have faith in God (Mark 11:22).
The Call of God
Memory Verses
Primary
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God (Mark 11:22).
Junior
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11:23).
Background Scripture: 1 Samuel 3; Mark 1
Lesson Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10; Mark 1:16-18
Introduction
God needed to call Samuel more than once before He gave him a message. Samuel was not familiar with God’s voice and thought Eli must be calling him. When God calls us and we recognize Him, we can expect further communication will follow. God’s call demonstrates his desire toward us, summoning our attention. God’s message or his instruction will not likely come before a revelation of Himself; if we are unsure of who He is, we could be tempted to disregard the message.
God continues to call in our day. He has given his children ears to hear and hearts to understand. What will his message be? Will we listen to what He says and heed his call?
Key Verse
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Pet. 2:9).
Lesson Scripture
1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
Mark 1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Studying the Lesson
God’s call to Samuel was a voice in the night. Israel was in a dark time, and a revelation from the Lord was rare. At this time there was not a prophet to whom the people could turn for an understanding of God’s will. It was believed that the secrets of God dwelt with his prophets; consequently, they were revered and sought out among the people. The people lived in semidarkness and confusion, and the scarcity of God’s word caused the people to regard it highly when there was opportunity to hear.
It was during Eli’s government that Boaz married Ruth, and a chosen lineage followed. War with the Philistines was threatening. Eli’s priesthood was diminishing, and his influence was waning. The ark of the Lord had long been at Shiloh, and it was here that the tabernacle was erected, and religious rituals were held. In this setting, Eli lived and served as high priest with the young Samuel assisting him in his duties.
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, had taken the boy at a young age to serve Eli, fulfilling her vow of lending him to the Lord. She remembered her distress at being childless and how God had removed that shame with the birth of Samuel. Hannah’s deep gratitude and devotion to God caused her to view Samuel as the Lord’s child and not her own.
The difference between Samuel and Eli’s sons could hardly have been more outstanding. Eli’s sons were living wickedly, polluting the Temple services and corrupting the atmosphere of holiness, but amid this, young Samuel was dedicated to the Lord. In his childish innocence, he began helping in the Temple service.
With Eli’s help, Samuel came to understand that God was calling him. Following Eli’s instructions led him to know God. He learned he should ask God to speak and then listen to what He would tell him. His faithfulness and honesty in recounting to Eli exactly what God had told him was evidence of his fear of God. Samuel was faithful even though the message was unpleasant and foretold tragedy in Eli’s family.
Following these early happenings, Samuel’s life is an example of faithfulness to God’s call. Samuel encountered many challenges, and he often needed to deliver stern and unpleasant warnings concerning Israel’s disobedience and pronounce judgments on pagan nations. Samuel lived a long life of service to God and was a spokesman for God. “And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah” (1 Sam. 25:1).
We, likewise, have many forebearers who were called by God and unselfishly gave themselves to the Lord’s kingdom, enduring much affliction. They are as beacons for us today, encouraging us in the good fight of faith.
Practical Truths for Today
God’s call to sinners is his effort to reclaim us. We are his creation and possession, but Satan stole us away by deceit, and we became estranged from God. We were helpless to regain our first state of communion with Him. We are not able to move toward God without Him calling or drawing us. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). This is the Lord’s first call to us, and He never fails in this call. It is a call prompted by love. For us to despise this call closes our door to salvation; to answer God’s call is the only hope for us.
When we respond to God’s call to salvation, we are born again by grace through faith into the newness of life in Christ Jesus. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). Our former self and its works are repented of and abandoned. Joy and peace and devotion to Christ become our companions on our journey through life. Our desire is to serve Him, giving Him first place in our hearts. Responsibilities and labors in his kingdom follow this encounter with God. Life brings an ample load of difficulties and disappointments to each of us, but our commitment to Christ serves as a lighthouse, guiding us to a safe home.
There are many places of service in the kingdom, and no one needs to stand idle, nor should anyone be without something to do. The opportunities are varied, and each one can find his place according to his gifts and abilities. One work is not above another, and God rewards faithfulness, not performance or accomplishment. God’s call to us is not a door to greatness or renown but an opportunity to be like Him. “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:7). God’s emphasis is always on his message, not on personage, as He urges us to follow in his steps.
God will continue to call young Christians after conversion, alerting them to his purpose for their lives. At a young age we may not be sure what such calls mean, but later we begin to understand more of God’s messages and their impact. Often those early calls set a trajectory that defines a course in life for the individual. It is a call away from selfishness and pride to serving others. Being conscious of God’s call will serve as a compass through life’s maze, even though we do not foresee all that God has purposed for us. Serving God will cause us to continually cleanse ourselves from evil, thereby being fit vessels for his use.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer. 29:11). God’s call beckons us to a purpose in life. With a God-given purpose a blessing is sure to follow. Our obedience to his call may entail difficulty and hardship, but his loving consideration envisions a good end. As with Samuel, the initial call may come quietly and perhaps not be fully understood, but God has a design for our lives that will bring glory to Him. God is not obligated to fully reveal his plan to us; our part is to follow in faith and trust. Man is selfish by nature, and we want to chart our own course, but God knows the end of that path is disappointment and death. He offers us a more perfect way, and that blessing hinges on our yielding to Him.
As we live our Christian life, we will become acquainted with the call of God. He may interrupt our lives and plans by calling us away from pleasing self to his purpose. His call will lift us above the pleasures and allurements of this earth to a world of fruit bearing and eternal values. God’s call is of eternal consequence; it delivers us from helplessness and dead works to a vibrant life in Christ.
Illustration
God called Saul on the road to Damascus. God had a message for this persecutor of the Christians, but first He needed to identify Himself. “And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). Saul asked about the message: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (v. 6). God did not tell Saul all that awaited him in life but rather gave instructions for the next step. Paul’s steadfast commitment in face of much opposition is an inspiration to us. “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24). This is what the call of God will do for us!
Questions
- Does God’s call to salvation include the call to service? Are they two separate calls?
- Should parents encourage their converted youth children to anticipate God’s call to more responsibility?
- How can we better understand our purpose and place in the kingdom of God?
- Is it humility that causes our reserve or reluctance to openly share about times of God calling us?
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).