Whom does the Lord call? What is he looking for?
To me, one of the most encouraging things about how God calls people, is the fact that he does not use the same criteria the world does. In fact, he appears to delight in using the most unlikely people to do his will here on earth.
To begin our journey, let's take a look at the life of David.
Setting the stage, Saul was basically a disobedient king, doing things more his way than God's way. And God rejected him. The Lord then sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse, telling him that one of his sons would be the one who would be anointed the next king.
Jesse's older sons, good-looking and tall, were shown to Samuel, and Samuel himself was impressed by their stature,
"But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Sam 16:7 (NIV)
I love that. God doesn't look at our appearance, he does not view things the way the world does. He looks at our heart.
It pleased him to take David, the youngest, from tending sheep to be used, not only then, but also today as we read his songs whenever we read the book of Psalms.
David was chosen because God saw something in him that his family couldn't see.
What do you see when you look in the mirror? What do you see when you look at what you have to bring to God? We cannot control our past poor choices and where they have led us. Nor can we bring to God our list of accomplishments as proof that he can use us.
First we simply must have a willing heart. That is where the journey of the chosen begins. We must be willing to be used by God as he sees fit, to accomplish not our own will, but his. We must say, "yes" to God.
If you have that desire, you can be used by God and you will find your destiny in him.
Paul tells us, "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. 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. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Cor 1:26-29 (NIV)
Today, take some time to examine that simple question, "Am I willing?" The journey will require much of us, as we will see in the lives of those who came before us. This will be a life about God, not about us. There are many who have walked away or fallen away on this narrow path.
But to find our destiny we must follow God, and it starts with the answer to that one question.
Are you willing?
