READING: Exodus 1-3
Do you remember when God first called you to Him? Perhaps it was through your reading the Bible, and the truths just came to life for you. Maybe it was a friend or loved one who told you about Jesus. It might have been through your hearing a sermon. Or, you might have faced a serious life difficulty that drove you to God for help. However it happened, God called you.
For me, it was a seventh-grade classmate who told me the story of Jesus. He wanted me to know the love of God and the reality of hell, and he cared enough about me to keep pushing me to listen. In August of 1974, I decided to attend church one time (primarily to get my friend off my back), and God did something amazing. He spoke to my heart so clearly that in no way could I deny His calling. I KNEW I needed to follow Him, and I quickly knew, too, that I was supposed to preach.
My calling was not nearly as dramatic as Moses’ calling — a burning bush that was not consumed, and God’s speaking to Him from that bush — but Moses and I do share one similarity: both of us knew God was speaking to us individually. Look at how clearly God spoke to Moses:
Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. So Moses thought: I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up? When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. (Exod. 3:2-4)
When God called me, I knew without question He was speaking to me directly. The God of creation was speaking to me, a thirteen year old guy who had never been in church. The author of the Bible wanted me to follow Him. He loved me so much that He sent someone across my path to tell me the story, directed me to a church where I would hear the story again, burdened my heart to follow Him, and then saved me. I can still only kneel in wonder this many years later.
What about you? Have you chosen to follow God? If not, I plead with you to hear God speaking to you through this devotion. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus to save you. Pray to Him, and He will hear you today. If you are a believer, thank Him for drawing you to Him.
ACTION STEPS: Consider these steps today:
- Turn to Jesus if you haven’t already done so.
- Remember your own salvation experience, making note of how God first called you to Him. Recall when He first called you by name. Praise Him by telling somebody else about Him.
PRAYER: “God, thank You that You know us and call us by name. You’re a great God!”
TOMORROW’S READING: Exodus 4-6
