As I read Acts 9, I am stuck on the notion of calling. In fact, we get two interesting looks at callings today. First, God is literally calling Saul (v4). Second, but no less powerful is a calling of Ananias.
To start, it’s helpful to identify what a calling is. According to Os Guinness, “Calling is the truth, that God calls us so decisively to himself, that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have, is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to his summons and service.”
I like that definition and without a doubt, it describes Saul. Beginning in verse 19, Saul is a new person. The Gospel has overtaken his heart and become him. It is no different for us. When we are called, and we respond affirmatively, it affects every aspect of our lives. In fact, it requires our instant and passionate reaction.
That freaks me out. Why? Because I don’t always give God my instant and passionate reactions. Ok sure, there are times when I live with a “special devotion,” but dynamism? What gives?
To answer that question, it is worth considering a second definition of calling. This one is from Oswald Chambers. He says, “God gets me into a relationship with Himself whereby I understand His call, then I do things out of sheer love for Him on my own account.”
Effectively, Chambers is saying that our calling is the natural outflow resulting from our contact with God. This is what I see in Ananias. In verse 11, Ananias is being summoned to do dangerous work with Saul. The invitation is a direct result of his talking with God (sometimes we call that praying). Then, Ananias responds just like Chambers suggests, “out of sheer love.” Why else would he risk his life?!
So that brings me back to my freak out. If I am living without a calling, I am also living without any special devotion and certainly no dynamism. Sadly, as Chambers suggests, that lack of call is a direct reflection of how in touch we are with the nature of God. It’s that simple.
Thankfully, this situation does not have to be permanent. When we seek Him, “He calls us back to that for which we were created— to worship the Lord God and to enjoy Him forever. And then out of our deep worship flows our work for Him.” (A.W. Tozer)
It took Saul three days of blindness to finally seek and see (v9). How long will it take you?
Works Cited
Guinness, Os. The Call: Finding and Fulfilling The Central Purpose Of Your Life. (p. 4) . Thomas Nelson
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest, Classic Edition. Discovery House. Kindle Edition.
Tozer, A. W. (2009-02-16). The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship (p. 95). Gospel Light. Kindle Edition.