Wouldn’t it be strange to think that in this modern world when we are surrounded by a cacophony of noise, that the Almighty God might be trying to call us to Himself? Could it be that we are failing to understand how His call comes to us, if indeed He is calling us.
I was surprised to see in 1 Corinthians the number of times St Paul told the Corinthians that God had called them to Himself, and how many of them had responded to His call. Here are some of the examples.
1]. God Calls Numbers Of People To Respond To Him And To Become Part Of His Church.
[In the Greek New Testament the word “church” translates the Greek word ekklesia meaning “the called out ones.” From ek = out of” and klesia from kaleo= I call.]
1Co 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
In this verse we have 3 different concepts. One is the church composed of those whom God has called out from the world to belong to Him. The second is the concept that He called them and set them apart in Christ [sanctified ] to become His holy people. The third is the fact that they responded to His call and called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We see here that God had a purpose in calling them to Himself, namely that they would have fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ. This implies a close relationship with Christ Himself.
1Co 1:24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. AND 1Co 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
God’s purpose in His world was to call to Himself people from different backgrounds such as Jews and Greeks. As they responded to Him they would discover His power and His wisdom. 1Co 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
God had chosen them to belong to Him and called them to Himself. This was not some arbitrary choice but they were chosen according to the foreknowledge of God. [1 Peter 1:1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit. In His divine omniscience, as He called all people to Himself, He knew beforehand who would respond to Him and who would reject Him, but He kept on calling all of them. He does so throughout our lives.
2]. GOD WANTS THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM NOT TO MAKE SUDDEN CHANGES IN THEIR SITUATIONS
God in His wisdom knew of the great change that would come in the lives of those who responded to His call. He used St Paul to advise these new converts not to make sudden changes in their situations but initially to remain in the same situations they were in when they responded to His call.
1Co 7:17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
1Co 7:18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
1Co 7:20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
However, they could make changes in their circumstances when it was possible to do so. 1Co 7:21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. The time would eventually come when those who were slaves and those who were free were seen to be one in Christ, as St Paul reminded the Christians in Galatia, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:28.
3]. God Is Still Calling People To Himself Today
There are many ways in which God calls us to Himself. I can remember perhaps the first time I began to think good things about Jesus. A couple from the country called into our place in Ipswich after visiting their severely disabled son in a nearby institution. It seemed that he would never be able to leave that institution. Their daughter aged about five began to tell me about her brother and said something like this, “Timmy is different, but Jesus loves him.” I remember thinking Jesus must be very kind to think that this little child, who would probably make no contribution to the world, was worthy of His love. It’s strange that I can still remember her saying those words some 70 years later, but I can now see it now as part of God’s call to me to respond to Him. I was a little bit softened by her words.
Can you remember from your past when for a moment your heart softened towards God? It may have been during a scripture lesson at school or when you learned to sing a certain hymn. It may have been a family member or a friend who shared something about Jesus with you and you can still remember those words. Or it may have been part of the sermon or part of a testimony that someone gave, that softened your heart for a moment.
God is calling people today to come to Him repenting of their sin and asking Him for His forgiveness. As St Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38, 39.
We are among those who are now “far off“ [in time and space] whom God is calling to Himself. Some 61 years ago I realised that God had been speaking to me in many ways and so I acted on the words in Revelation 3:20. It is a picture of the Risen Christ standing at the door of our lives, knocking and wanting to come in to share His life with us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20.
As I prayed the prayer, Christ did come into my life and completely transformed it. I had responded to His call on my life and what a life it has been. Some years later I felt called to ask a beautiful, intelligent young woman to be my wife. And praise God, she felt called to say “Yes!” Responding to the call of God on your life opens you up to receive all that God has for you in His loving mercy and grace.
Perhaps He has been calling you to respond to Him as you have been reading these words. You might be helped by reading about my own personal experience in this article on my blog site. It is No.022 on this site http://www.jimholbeck.blog
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.
holbeck 
564. Is God Calling You To Himself? [A look at 1 Corinthians]
Wouldn’t it be strange to think that in this modern world when we are surrounded by a cacophony of noise, that the Almighty God might be trying to call us to Himself? Could it be that we are failing to understand how His call comes to us, if indeed He is calling us.
I was surprised to see in 1 Corinthians the number of times St Paul told the Corinthians that God had called them to Himself, and how many of them had responded to His call. Here are some of the examples.
1]. God Calls Numbers Of People To Respond To Him And To Become Part Of His Church.
[In the Greek New Testament the word “church” translates the Greek word ekklesia meaning “the called out ones.” From ek = out of” and klesia from kaleo= I call.]
1Co 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
In this verse we have 3 different concepts. One is the church composed of those whom God has called out from the world to belong to Him. The second is the concept that He called them and set them apart in Christ [sanctified ] to become His holy people. The third is the fact that they responded to His call and called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We see here that God had a purpose in calling them to Himself, namely that they would have fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ. This implies a close relationship with Christ Himself.
1Co 1:24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. AND 1Co 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
God’s purpose in His world was to call to Himself people from different backgrounds such as Jews and Greeks. As they responded to Him they would discover His power and His wisdom. 1Co 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
God had chosen them to belong to Him and called them to Himself. This was not some arbitrary choice but they were chosen according to the foreknowledge of God. [1 Peter 1:1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit. In His divine omniscience, as He called all people to Himself, He knew beforehand who would respond to Him and who would reject Him, but He kept on calling all of them. He does so throughout our lives.
2]. GOD WANTS THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM NOT TO MAKE SUDDEN CHANGES IN THEIR SITUATIONS
God in His wisdom knew of the great change that would come in the lives of those who responded to His call. He used St Paul to advise these new converts not to make sudden changes in their situations but initially to remain in the same situations they were in when they responded to His call.
1Co 7:17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
1Co 7:18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
1Co 7:20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
However, they could make changes in their circumstances when it was possible to do so. 1Co 7:21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. The time would eventually come when those who were slaves and those who were free were seen to be one in Christ, as St Paul reminded the Christians in Galatia, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:28.
3]. God Is Still Calling People To Himself Today
There are many ways in which God calls us to Himself. I can remember perhaps the first time I began to think good things about Jesus. A couple from the country called into our place in Ipswich after visiting their severely disabled son in a nearby institution. It seemed that he would never be able to leave that institution. Their daughter aged about five began to tell me about her brother and said something like this, “Timmy is different, but Jesus loves him.” I remember thinking Jesus must be very kind to think that this little child, who would probably make no contribution to the world, was worthy of His love. It’s strange that I can still remember her saying those words some 70 years later, but I can now see it now as part of God’s call to me to respond to Him. I was a little bit softened by her words.
Can you remember from your past when for a moment your heart softened towards God? It may have been during a scripture lesson at school or when you learned to sing a certain hymn. It may have been a family member or a friend who shared something about Jesus with you and you can still remember those words. Or it may have been part of the sermon or part of a testimony that someone gave, that softened your heart for a moment.
God is calling people today to come to Him repenting of their sin and asking Him for His forgiveness. As St Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38, 39.
We are among those who are now “far off“ [in time and space] whom God is calling to Himself. Some 61 years ago I realised that God had been speaking to me in many ways and so I acted on the words in Revelation 3:20. It is a picture of the Risen Christ standing at the door of our lives, knocking and wanting to come in to share His life with us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20.
As I prayed the prayer, Christ did come into my life and completely transformed it. I had responded to His call on my life and what a life it has been. Some years later I felt called to ask a beautiful, intelligent young woman to be my wife. And praise God, she felt called to say “Yes!” Responding to the call of God on your life opens you up to receive all that God has for you in His loving mercy and grace.
Perhaps He has been calling you to respond to Him as you have been reading these words. You might be helped by reading about my own personal experience in this article on my blog site. It is No.022 on this site http://www.jimholbeck.blog
Blog No.564 posted on Monday 20 January 2025
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.