Called
Moody-Leon United Methodist Church
Moody First United Methodist Church
Rev. Eddie Smart
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.
for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
It was June of 1990. Diana and I had been in Waco for annual conference. I was a lay member to Annual Conference from my church. I had been touched by the teaching and preaching of Dr. William Willimon. We returned home Wednesday evening. Thursday morning early, I opened my Bible for my morning devotion. I was turning toward Paul’s letters to the Corinthians when my eyes fell on those words in Romans 11:29. The words I read this morning. “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” At that moment I said, “Ok, God I get the message!”
I had been struggling with the idea that God had called ME to ordained ministry since Oct. 1988. At that moment those words meant God was not going to change his mind. God had called and that call was irrevocable. BUT that passage means so much more than that. It means more than a description of the relationship between God and us. It means more than a description of the relationship between God and the Israelites, which is the subject being addressed by Paul. This passage is about the very character of God.
I said, “Yes.” to God’s call to ordained ministry. I made plans to attend seminary. I received an appointment to pastor a local church. I completed the seminary education and the ordination process. I am now serving in my forth appointment.
In recommending me as a candidate for ordained ministry, my local church was asked if they believed I had God’s gifts for that task. During the process of approval for ordination, the evidence of God’s gifts for ministry were examined. Paul has told us that God has given us spiritual gifts, that each of us has different gifts and we come together with all our gifts to do our Lord’s work.
At times I have followed God’s call, faithfully serving as a pastor, faithfully serving as your pastor. At times I have failed in following God’s call. BUT even when I fail the calling is still there. The God given gifts are still there. God is still there.
This is not a passage about our faithfulness. This is a passage about God’s faithfulness. Jesus was arrested in the garden and the trial began that night. Peter three times denied being a follower of Jesus, his friend, BUT Jesus appeared to Peter after the resurrection. Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.” Peter in 50 days would preach the first Christian sermon. It was Pentecost & 3000 would be baptized. Peter was later called before a Jewish council. The same Jewish leaders that had tried Jesus. They asked, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
Peter’s response: (Acts 4:8-10)
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.” Peter boldly said that to those who had plotted to have Jesus crucified.
Even though Peter had failed, God’s calling was still there. God’s gifts were still in Peter. God was still there with him.
Paul in reference to the rejection of Jesus by Israel is saying God’s calling is still there. God’s gifts are still with them. God is still present to them. The God who gives and the God who calls may be trusted to retract neither the gift nor the call.
Vocation: It comes from the Latin vocare, to call, and means the work a person is called to by God. We all have a vocation–that work to which God has called us. For some of us we receive a paycheck for doing the work to which God has called us. For some the paycheck is the thing that allows us to do the work to which God has called us. Your work in this church, according to Paul, should be the work for which the Holy Spirit has gifted you and to which God has called you. There may be work beyond your church and beyond your occupation that God has called you to. God called me to this work. God calls you to that work God has saved just for you.
One summer in seminary, I took a preaching class. It was taught by a retired professor of preaching at Chandler School of Theology, Emory University. The first day of class Dr. Craddock opened with this prayer: “Gracious God, we are grateful for life and work that is more important than we happen to feel about it on any given day.”
In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery.
“Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”
“I understand,” said Henry. “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”
“Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.”
When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The king learned to rule by being obedient.” (Source unknown)
When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or secretary or business owner or engineer or salesperson or manager or mother or father.
Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us. And Paul wants us to know: The God who gives and the God who calls may be trusted to retract neither the gift nor the call. Paul wants us to know: This same God is sovereign and faithful. Praises be to God forever and forever.
Let us pray: God, who speaks softly to us, help us hear your call. Help us discern your will for our lives and the gifts you have given us. Let us respond by presenting ourselves as living sacrifices for your service. Amen.