CALLED

Last week I joined 6,000 pastors from the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists for a few days of powerful preaching, practical seminars, and inspiring music. Chelsea and I came away from that conference blessed and encouraged in our ministry and know many of the other pastors did as well. The theme song for the conference was cowritten by Ivan Williams, the ministerial director for the North American Division. The lyrics, in part, go like this: “Who am I? I don’t understand / Why the Great ‘I AM’ would use me in this place. / But here am I / I can feel you now / I can hear you now / And your melody of grace. / It’s hard and steep / There are lonely days and days when I get weak. / But I’m standing here / I’m not going nowhere. / Though I’m unworthy and broken / imperfect but chosen / That’s why I keep going / And all that I know is / I’m only here because I’m called.”

You may or may not be a pastor, but I can imagine that you resonate with the words of that song. God has called each one of us to some form of ministry. But if you’re anything like me, you feel unworthy. The devil often likes to point out our flaws and deficiencies. But in those moments, I think about the call of Isaiah. He felt unworthy and sinful. Yet, God purified him with a coal from the altar, representing the sacrifice offered on his behalf. “Then I (Isaiah) heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am. Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8). God not only calls you, he also makes you worthy of the call. And you, like me, are standing here, imperfect but chosen. We are called - won’t you answer that call?