The Calling

"No one comes to the me unless the Father who sent me draws them." - John 6:44

Have you ever heard a wolf howling, crying out in the wilderness? They are calling to one another. Assembling the pack - its family. How do we answer when God calls us?

Christian evangelists tells us we must "choose Christ." But is it really OUR choice if we have already been chosen by God?

I see Franklin Graham on television telling people to "pray this prayer." Do we really need to pray a prayer if we already have been chosen?

One of my favorite go-to examples in the Bible is the thief on the cross. Did HE pray a prayer? No, not that we are told anyway. But he DID believe that Jesus was God. And that's all it took for him to be with Jesus "in paradise" later that same day.

So, why even evangelize? Why tell others about God if they have already been drawn to Him?

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?" - Romans 10:14:15

The answer to these questions is given to us by Paul just two verses later.

"Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." - Romans 10:17

Our belief in God comes from two things. Hearing it and receiving it.

God already knows those who are going to say 'yes.' "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world." - Ephesians 1:4

Look at it this way. It's not a matter of praying a prayer, it's in the hearing of the good news about Jesus. And then receiving that word and believing it.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. God demonstrated His own love for us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9, 5:1

It is a blessing to have been chosen. We should act like it. And also remember this:

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9

"Ask and ye shall receive." - Matthew 7:7

The Wolf Song - Norwegian Lullaby