Rev. Debbie Cato
Fairfield Community Church
1 Samual 3:1-20 and John
1:43-51
January 14, 2024
Awesome God, you knew us before we were born. You love us
into life. Open our hearts and our spirits today to hear your word for us. And,
upon hearing the word, may we be convinced of our call to ministry and mission
through the church. Bless us with your presence and your powerful love, for we
ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
When God
Calls
God’s been calling us since the beginning of time. God said, “Let us make humankind in our
image.” God speaks the words and man and
woman are created. Adam and Eve ….. you
and me…. exist because God called us into being. And God said it was very good.
God calls Abram to be the father of all nations. God tells Abram and Sara that even though they are biologically too old – they will have many descendants. They laugh! It seems impossible. Sarah is 99 years old! But God calls and overlooking a few “I’ll help God” escapades, Abraham and Sarah trust God and follow his call.
God calls Moses to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt. Moses protests – I’m not a good speaker, He tells God. But God calls Moses anyway. And fighting and kicking all the way…. Moses responds to God’s call.
I like Samuel; I guess because I can relate to Samuel’s response when God calls him. Even though Samuel was in the temple when God calls, he doesn’t recognize God’s voice. You see, he isn’t expecting to hear from God. So the first time God calls Samuel, he figures it was the priest - Eli. No. It wasn’t Eli.
The second time God calls, Samuel still doesn’t think its God. He doesn’t even consider it could be God calling him. In fact, God doesn’t even enter into the equation. It has to be Eli. Samuel goes into Eli’s house again - only to be told that ‘No, I’m not calling you, Samuel.’ This happens a third time and this time Eli, who is very wise says, ‘Aha. Samuel, It’s God calling you, not me! Go back and listen.’ Wise advice. Go back and listen. Listen.
You see, I get this. It’s a little bit like when God first called me to ministry. Back in 1999, successful in my career, I felt like I needed to be doing something different. It was odd actually. I felt like I needed to do something where my faith was a part of all of me – not just a Sunday compartment. Hmmm - God was calling but I wasn’t expecting to hear his voice – so I didn’t.
I took a bunch of personality & career tests to try to figure out what I wanted to do. Three out of three tests – 100% - said I belonged in ministry. I remember going home and telling my girls about these tests. Jessica was about 12 years old. I remember her looking at me and saying, “Mom. I want to support you in this, but I just can’t be the daughter of a minister.” My response was just as adamant. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m not going to be a minister.” God was calling me again, but I didn’t recognize his voice.
Few years later – it’s 2003. I have this deep desire to go to seminary. Didn’t know why but it was overwhelming. So I applied to seminary and to my shock I was accepted! Of course I knew I was NOT going to be a pastor. After a semester of classes, I met with my advisor and he asked me why I wasn’t working toward a Master of Divinity. “Oh,” I said, “because, God is not calling me to be a pastor. I don’t really know why I’m here. I just want to learn more theology.” “Well,” he said. “I would like to ask you to pray about that. Because we think you are called to pastoral ministry.”
Did you recognize it? The third time God called me? Well I didn’t. God used a battery of personality tests, a yearning in my own heart, and a seminary advisor to call me…. but I wasn’t expecting to hear God’s voice, so I didn’t. It took me another year to hear God’s voice; to hear God calling me. I thought I was in charge of my future. I thought I was making the decisions. It never dawned on me that God would call someone like me. After all, I was too broken, too full of sin for God to call me.
But God doesn’t call the people we might expect him to call. Just look at who Jesus calls as his disciples. Not the leaders of the community. Not the folks we would consider qualified – those that are well-educated and well-spoken and well-respected. Jesus calls a bunch of ordinary folks – like you and me to follow him.
Like God, Jesus’ calls his disciples by name. Simon…Andrew he calls. Come follow me. Philip. Nathanael. Come follow me. One by one, Jesus calls his disciples – very personally – by name. When Jesus calls Simon, and Andrew and Philip and Nathanael and the other disciples, it changes their lives. It’s radical. “Come follow me” he says. He means that things will never be the same. Their lives belong to Christ.
Jesus calls each of us as well. Like His call to His first disciples, he calls us by name. Darcia, come follow me. Cindy, come follow me. Barbara, come follow me. (pause) Do you believe that Jesus called you? Do you believe that He still calls you?
Well, I do! We belong to Christ. He says, “Come follow me.” Jesus called your name. He put a yearning in your heart; and He brought you here. (pause) Christ calls every one of us- at different times; in different seasons; to different things. And when he does, our life is never the same again.
How do I know this? Well…. I’m here, aren’t I?! When God calls us we have no idea what wonderful plans he has for us. Perhaps when He calls us it’s a test of faith and obedience. Or, perhaps it has nothing to do with us – but everything for God’s bigger plan. It doesn’t really matter. Because I know with certainty God calls each and every one of us. You see, he doesn’t just call us to ministry. Janel, I believe God called you to teach and work with young children. Look at how many lives you’ve touched. Scott, God called you to work with the elderly; to show them love and compassion. Sandy, I think about the lives you touch greeting people at the dentist and making their days better. Those of you that stayed home and cared for children and are now caring for grandchildren – pricelessly impacting their lives forever. Joe & Patti – there’s no doubt that God called you to foster young children and love on them and plant seeds that will be with them forever. I think about Breanna and Molly and the friends they impact with their kind hearts and loving spirits. Gene, your years in law enforcement and how you treated your fellow officers and the people you came across work. These are all callings, friends. I bet many of you have a story when like Samuel, you finally figured out it was God calling you and you said, (without realizing it perhaps) “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
So here we are – you and me – called to this place in this time because God has plans for us and plans for His church here in Fairfield. We are here because God called us HERE. He called you…. and you… and you… and me here; to this place, at this time. He called us to part of His body right here in this community. He called us to be leaders of His Church. He called us to be His instruments in His ministry.
God has called you here –because this is where you belong. He calls you by name. He loves you. He wants you. He invites you in. “Come follow me,” he says. And take my word for it, when God calls, our lives are never the same again.
How will you respond? Listen. Do you hear his voice? Amen.
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