Not_Now.Soon
Member
As kids in school, being called up to the principle's office was rarely thought of as an honor, but was a sign you were in trouble. Later in life the same is kind of true if your boss calls you into his or her office, but sometimes it's not for a bad reason. If you were called by the president, the prime minister, or otherwise the leader of your nation, would you be as afraid of why you were called, excited and honored to meet the leader of your nation, or in general anticipation of what was going to happen?
Just a little to go on based on if you are called by authorities of mankind. But here's the real question. How would you think you would react if God called you, Jesus visited you, or even if an angel came to you with a message from God?
In my opinion the reaction of the people in the bible who've had this occure is something to consider. From Adam and Eve hiding, when God came, and only coming out when He said "where are you?" And from Saul who perscuted Christians before Jesus spoke to him, blinding him and Sending Him another direction. One reaction that I think is fair is fear. You've just been called up to the ultimate principle's office and either know what you've done wrong, or are worried about any number of things it could be. In Isaiah 6:5 this is Isaiah's first reaction. "It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” After An angel reassures Isaiah, his second reaction might be the best way to respond, but at least this first reaction is worth considering. If you were called up by God would you be afraid? If you read the first 5 chapters of Isaiah you will read one of God's many rebukes to Israel. And a rebuke from the highest authority would be something to fear, and to try and straighten your ways.
That brings up a second response. If God calls you and gives his decrees to settle your account and your sins, a good reaction is to repent of our sins. Be like the people that Jonah was sent to prophesy to. They were told of God's coming judgment and their destruction, and they mourned and repented. Though Jonah was angry of God's forgiveness, the response of the city of Nineveh cooled God's judgment, and they were spared.
A third response I've read is what I worry would be my response. Disbelief even to say, "God you must have the wrong person." In Luke 1:18, Zechariah (John the Baptist's father) was visited by an Angel to promise him a child. Zechariah's response was one of doubt, saying how can this be I am so old. This also seems to be one reaction Moses had when God called Him also, saying to God that he couldn't do what God ask of Him, he's the wrong person to choose. I hope anyone reading this will have a better reaction, but honestly it takes courage to believe God sometimes. Because what He says He will do, or what He tells us to do, are sometimes the things that seem impossible.
The last reply that I can think of is probably the best one, it's found in Isaiah 6:8. After an angel reassured Isaiah that he would be would be ok, God asked "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” Isaiah responded in that vision, "Here I am. Send me."
Do you have any guesses of how you might react if God called you? Or those of you who have an account of God talking to you, do you remember your first few reactions? Who knows until it happens, if it ever does. Hopefully we all have the lessons of the bible learned. So that we don't act in doubt like John the baptist's father. Nor act by running from God's direction like Jonah did before he finally gave God's message to the people of Nineveh. Hopefully with humility, we will be sanctified, even if we are afraid. Or hopefully we will be courageous and brave, and say "here I am Lord."
Just a little to go on based on if you are called by authorities of mankind. But here's the real question. How would you think you would react if God called you, Jesus visited you, or even if an angel came to you with a message from God?
In my opinion the reaction of the people in the bible who've had this occure is something to consider. From Adam and Eve hiding, when God came, and only coming out when He said "where are you?" And from Saul who perscuted Christians before Jesus spoke to him, blinding him and Sending Him another direction. One reaction that I think is fair is fear. You've just been called up to the ultimate principle's office and either know what you've done wrong, or are worried about any number of things it could be. In Isaiah 6:5 this is Isaiah's first reaction. "It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” After An angel reassures Isaiah, his second reaction might be the best way to respond, but at least this first reaction is worth considering. If you were called up by God would you be afraid? If you read the first 5 chapters of Isaiah you will read one of God's many rebukes to Israel. And a rebuke from the highest authority would be something to fear, and to try and straighten your ways.
That brings up a second response. If God calls you and gives his decrees to settle your account and your sins, a good reaction is to repent of our sins. Be like the people that Jonah was sent to prophesy to. They were told of God's coming judgment and their destruction, and they mourned and repented. Though Jonah was angry of God's forgiveness, the response of the city of Nineveh cooled God's judgment, and they were spared.
A third response I've read is what I worry would be my response. Disbelief even to say, "God you must have the wrong person." In Luke 1:18, Zechariah (John the Baptist's father) was visited by an Angel to promise him a child. Zechariah's response was one of doubt, saying how can this be I am so old. This also seems to be one reaction Moses had when God called Him also, saying to God that he couldn't do what God ask of Him, he's the wrong person to choose. I hope anyone reading this will have a better reaction, but honestly it takes courage to believe God sometimes. Because what He says He will do, or what He tells us to do, are sometimes the things that seem impossible.
The last reply that I can think of is probably the best one, it's found in Isaiah 6:8. After an angel reassured Isaiah that he would be would be ok, God asked "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” Isaiah responded in that vision, "Here I am. Send me."
Do you have any guesses of how you might react if God called you? Or those of you who have an account of God talking to you, do you remember your first few reactions? Who knows until it happens, if it ever does. Hopefully we all have the lessons of the bible learned. So that we don't act in doubt like John the baptist's father. Nor act by running from God's direction like Jonah did before he finally gave God's message to the people of Nineveh. Hopefully with humility, we will be sanctified, even if we are afraid. Or hopefully we will be courageous and brave, and say "here I am Lord."