The Calling of God

Serving God has always meant a lot to me. At the age of nineteen, I felt called to go to Haiti to start a brand new mission with my parents.

While living in rural Haiti, I was always busy addressing the biggest task which had to be completed each day. I have now been working in Haiti since 1983. The work is all-consuming and endless. There have been many challenges and victories along the way. We give all of the glory to God for the work which has been done. Just as God called me, He is calling each and every person.

God calls us to salvation. We all seem to have different stories of how we came to faith in God. As strange as it may sound, one night I prayed and told God I would try being a Christian for a week. The next morning when I woke up I sensed I was a changed person. Our experiences are different. God gets our attention in various ways. The important thing is that we know God through a true salvation experience. We are saved by faith and we must walk by faith. John 20:29 says, “Blessed are those who have believed and have not seen.” God is calling to all—offering forgiveness and salvation. “He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
  
God calls us out of sin. There is a code of ethics for Christians to walk by—given to us by God in the Ten Commandments. Many times I refer back to them to remind myself of God’s loving requirements. Upon our salvation experience, we are new creatures in Jesus Christ. God wants to change us as we work with the Spirit to live a life of obedience and love. The New Testament command to love the Lord our God supremely, and love our neighbors as ourselves is important to ponder as we evaluate our actions. We cannot fool God. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” 
   
God calls us to service. Our purpose is to bring others to faith in Christ. Like a flower full of seeds, we need to multiply and bring forth growth in God’s kingdom. In Ephesians 2:8-10 we read, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” When I came to salvation I felt the need to walk away from a sinful life. I was filled with a willingness to serve God. It is worth it for everyone to serve Him! How we serve God may be different. You may not end up in Haiti like I did, but God wants you to serve Him right where you are with your gifts, resources and abilities. God has not disappointed me, but instead has surpassed my expectations by providing for and protecting me. God will not disappoint you either.  It is always worth it to serve the Lord! ~Charlie DeTellis