When God calls, will you answer? I don't mean if He were to call you on your phone. I mean if He places a call on your life, will you answer it?
The immediate answer is yes, of course. He calls us to love our families and our neighbors. That's a pretty easy 'yes' for the most part. But, what if He calls you to pack up everything and move across the country -- or even across the world -- to serve Him? Most people would agree that this would be a harder 'yes' than the previous. What if He calls you to be persecuted for your faith and to suffer for His sake and for the advancement of His Kingdom? Most people would pack up and run the opposite way, not even considering to answer with 'yes.'
In Paul's letter to the Phillipians, he reminds us of the call that is placed on our lives as believers. The call that requires us to live and to love like Jesus. The call that asks us to give our lives. To jump when He says jump. To move when he says move. To go where He says go. You see, Jesus answered every call that God placed on His life. Jesus was obedient to God until Death.
He never said "No, you've got the wrong person" or packed up and ran. Instead, He simply said "Not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42) Jesus followed His Father's commands knowing that He was suffering for a purpose. He endured pain and torment because God needed Him to so that others would grow to have a faith. He suffered so that we could live.
Paul reminds us that, because of Christ, we are called to not only believe in Him, but to suffer for His sake. To suffer so that we might become more like Him in His life and in His death. Suffering and being persecuted so that the Kingdom might be advanced. Enduring pain so that someone might come to be saved.
When we are called into something, we often fear the suffering that we may have to endure. We become anxious and stressed. But it's stated in Philippians 4:13 that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." When you become anxious or stressed about where God is calling you, put your trust in him. Through prayer and faith, He will sustain you. He will provide you all you need.
So, throw off all fears. Trust and know that when God calls, He has a plan for you. He will provide you your daily bread that will sustain you.
Don't miss out on your chance to take part in the greatest story in HIStory.