Dear Brethren,

God speaks of His people as the "called and chosen" people of God.

As we begin to think about preparing for the Passover, I wondered how precious we realize our calling is.  God's calling is His personal invitation to you to have a close relationship with Him. Peter referred to this magnificent calling in his first letter by writing, "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10). 

Peter's inspired description of the Christian calling helps us to comprehend the majesty of God's salvation. This great calling is made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins and the forgiveness He made freely available.

The apostle Paul supported Peter's approach by describing the Church (those chosen ones whom God has called out of this world) as a spiritual building joined together and growing into a holy temple in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:20-22).  

God the Father starts the calling process.  Jesus tells us, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..."  (John 6:44)  It is God the Father who initially calls His chosen ones out of this world of spiritual darkness into His marvelous light (John 6:44 & 65).  

Paul reminds us:  God "has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began (2 Timothy 1:9).

Many of you have responded to that calling and counted the cost.  You repented of your past sins and made a commitment at baptism to make a change in the way you were living, to submit your will to Him and strive to love, follow and obey our creator in all aspects of your life.  

Some who have not made the commitment of baptism, may wonder if they are being called now.  If God is calling you, you will have awakened to a desire and the need for change in your personal life, to bring it into line with the Godly standards and values shown in the Scriptures --"to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" ( Ephesians 4:1 NIV).  The Bible refers to this process as repentance. Luke called it "repentance to life" (Acts 11:8).  

One of the signs that God may be calling you is that you are beginning, however gradually, to truly understand the Scriptures with a depth and dimension that you never experienced before. You have begun to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:10).  Of course there is much more to this miraculous process of the Christian calling and how the acceptance of that calling ultimately leads to salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.  However, nothing is more important than God's calling and the awesomeness and greatness of what it means. 

Peter reminds us: "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things you will never fall" (2 Peter 1:5-10).

Have a meaningful Sabbath,

Dave