Q. 31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
“Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” (2 Timothy 1:8-9, NRSV)
“Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13, NRSV)
Christ walks through the centuries alongside each generation, alongside every generation, alongside every person. He walks alongside each person as a friend. An important day in a young person's life is the day on which he becomes convinced that this is the only Friend who will not disappoint him, on whom he can always count. - Pope John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope (New York: Knopf, 1994).
The homeward journey of the human spirit, then, may be thought of as due to the push of a divine life within, answering to the pull of a divine life without. God wants to free us from the power of sin and make us whole. But he will not force our hand against our will. The first essential step towards growth and healing is the desire for change. If we are content to stay as we are, then no amount of coaxing will change us. The Lord manifests his power and saving grace towards those who desire transformation of life in Christ. The Lord approaches each of us with the same probing question: "Do you really want to be changed, to be set free from the power of sin, and to be transformed in my holiness?"
When God acts to save us he graciously fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes our faith to come alive. Each and every day the Lord is ready to renew us in faith, hope, and love. God wants to fill us with his glory all the days of our lives, from birth through death. Renew the offering of your life to God and give him thanks for his mercy and favor towards you. Do you allow the Holy Spirit free reign in your life that he may set you free from the grip of sin and set you ablaze with the fire of God's love?
Every call from God is a personal call. God's call comes to us person-to-person. It is not a conference call. Some of us respond by putting God on hold. Others of us use call-waiting and take other calls first. Then there are those of us who try to return the call collect - making God pay for calling us.
There are three rather uncomfortable, uncontrollable characteristics of being called: 1) that God often calls us to do the very thing we have said we would never be caught dead doing; 2) that God often calls us to do the very thing other people are better at doing than we are; 3) that God often calls us when and where we least expect it.
We often mistakenly believe that a calling from God is about vocation or purpose in our lives. God’s Spirit calls us to many necessary tasks each day, the Holy Spirit calls us to forgiveness, calls us to recognize our sin, calls us to seek knowledge and wisdom, calls us to renewal when life gets dull and predictable, calls us to listening to God’s will for the here and now, as well as, getting our attention to many other necessary daily moments where we are called to give a response. The work of the Spirit is to call us to those moments in our lives where we can embrace Jesus Christ and experience the fullness of His grace offered to us as a free gift.
D. T. Niles was adamant in his insistence that "you cannot take Jesus to India. You cannot take Jesus to Africa. The call to take Jesus to the heathen is ridiculous. We cannot take Jesus anywhere. He is already in Africa. He is already beside the mother in the hut in India. He is already there loving and healing and ministering. He takes us to join Him in His loving service to His children. He has already been there. Before we were born, He was there. Before we could think of going, He was already there. He takes us, we never take Him." We are called to go where God is already at work, in our friends, in our neighborhoods, in our family members, and among those God has touched with His grace. We are called as faithful witnesses to the glory of God and share how God revealed to us in Jesus Christ has touched our lives.
Today’s Lectionary Readings
Morning Psalm: 47, 59
Evening Psalm: 27
Jeremiah 10:11-24
Romans 5:12-21
John 8:21-32
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