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FEBRUARY. “Who are called”..

Context

2 Chronicles 7:12 - 15. MSG. God appeared to Solomon that very night and said, “I accept your prayer; yes, I have chosen this place as a temple for sacrifice, a house of worship. If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. From now on I’m alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called .

We learned last month that God leaves no doubt about who He’s addressing. It was His people, Israel, yet as we read these verses again today remember that God is speaking to us, His people, the church!

Different bible translations….

“Who are called.” “Who bear my name.” “Who belong to me.”

“My God-defined people.” (Defined means “precisely marked or stated.”)

Difference between called and chosen. God calls for everyone to come to Him, and when we come then he reveals to each of us, step by step, His plan for our lives…His calling is the same for us all, but His choosing is different for each of us.

Examples:

Luke 6:13 KJV

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles…

Jesus had many disciples, or followers who he called to come to him and from them he chose the 12 who we know as the 12 apostles.

Paul wrote …..

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints , (holy) with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord….

We have all been called. The Holy Spirit has drawn each of us to Jesus.

He has called each one of us to fulfil his plan for our lives.

He has called us all to be saints (holy), to live like Jesus lived. It is a holy calling and a high calling….ever leading us higher.

He has called us -

…….to love like Jesus loved (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

…….to forgive like Jesus forgave (Luke 23:34)

…….to serve like Jesus served. (John 13:14)

Consider these verses and then ask yourself….

“Am I holy (a saint)?”

Pray over any areas the Lord speaks to you about.

There are several Greek words translated in the New Testament as “call”.

Here are more meanings

…….to summon, invite, to call and commission, appoint.

This is what God does. He calls us and invites us to come to Him. Then He commissions us (gives us an assignment) and appoints us as His representative. What a privilege and what a responsibility we have!

1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT

“……you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession..

Think about this for a while.

• You are royalty
• You are a priest (or priestess)
• You are part of God’s kingdom
• You belong to God

V. 9. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

If we live like Jesus we can be a light to our family, friends and work mates, showing them the goodness of God. This is our calling.

V.10. Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.

Once we were lost, not knowing who we are or where we are going, but now we are children of God. We have an identity and our future is glorious!

Once we lived as slaves to sin and were facing death and eternal separation from God. But now we have received the mercy of God through the death of Jesus Christ and have eternal life. How blessed we are to be called!!

Take time to praise and thank God that He called you and for all the blessings that are yours as a result of His calling.

Let this song bless you…. https://youtu.be/1MXbn1yhXwc.