Hear His Call

 

God speaks to His children through His Word, His creation, and through His orchestration of details in His universe to send us a direct message that the unsaved might interpret as “coincidence.”

But with God there are no coincidences, for He works all things together for our ultimate good and for His glory Romans 8:28). It is always better to listen to His still, small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12) than to ignore it, as He may be forced to smack us with a baseball bat just to get our attention!

Once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), God speaks to us through His Word, whether we read it in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16), hear it preached from the pulpit (Romans 10:14-17), sung in a Christian song Ephesians 5:19, or brought to our remembrance by the Godly counsel of a brother or sister in Christ Proverbs 27:17. His written Word came directly from His Son, the Living Word (Hebrews 1:1-2).

The beauty and complexity of God’s creation should reveal His existence even to the unsaved, for the heavens and earth declare the handiwork of the supreme Intelligent Designer (Psalm 19:1), so that even unbelievers who have not heard or read Scripture have no excuse to doubt Him (Romans 1:20). God often speaks to believers by lifting their spirits with a cheerful bird song or beautiful flower blooming through a crack in the pavement, by reminding them of the Gospel through specific creations that reflect it, or even by a juxtaposition of seemingly random natural elements or circumstances that tell us His will in unique messages intended for our eyes and ears only.

When we clearly hear His voice in these ways, we ignore it at our own peril. How can we be sure the message is from God? He cannot lie (Titus 1:2) or change (Hebrews 13:8), so we know that God will never speak against His own Word. Any message that contradicts it must come from our own flesh or from Satan, and not from Him.

When we pray to God to hear His will, follow and obey Him, He will give us peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4: 6-7), for He is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). Feeling at peace about a difficult decision is a confirmation that we are trusting God to lead us in His perfect will, and not relying on our own “wisdom,” resources or strength (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Often God calls His children to change direction even when they seem to be fruitful in their current situation or ministry. The founding pastor of the church my husband and I joined after we were saved had grown that church from a small gathering in his home to a much larger congregation. Many souls had been saved under his powerful preaching and many believers were nurtured, schooled, comforted and strengthened through his role as devoted and loving pastor.

Despite his fruitfulness in that church for many years, he felt God calling him to change direction. He left to become a founding member of HELP Ministries, which now supports and trains more than 400 native missionary pastors in 48 countries on five continents! Untold numbers of souls have been saved in these native churches and through evangelistic journeys and church planting!

And the souls he “left behind” at his former church also flourished under the new leadership of the youth pastor who took the helm as undershepherd. This great man of God grew and matured in the Lord, leading countless souls to Him, feeding, training, befriending, teaching and loving his flock, and acquiring a large church campus, building a large new sanctuary and fellowship hall, and growing the church spiritually, physically and financially. Although God called him home at the age of 40, after a short but agonizing bout with widespread lung cancer, his legacy in the hearts and minds of his congregation, and the crowns he won to lay at Jesus’ feet, cannot be underestimated.

He was a great blessing to us, and we are forever thankful for the spiritual growth and opportunities to serve that we experienced under his leadership. I sang solo specials and in the choir and taught a ladies’ class, while my husband served as a greeter and usher, and helped in the sound booth.

After we had been members for 12 years, one day the new pastor preached on Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

As we drove home, past a neighboring church that we passed nearly daily in our travels, my husband wondered out loud whether God might be calling us to serve Him in our “Jerusalem”—this church right around the corner from our house.

We discovered that the church had gone through difficult times because of many leaders and members dying or moving away, and we strongly felt led to help that church by transferring our membership and looking for new service opportunities there. It was a difficult decision, as we loved our church family and pastors and were thankful for our ministries. But we trusted God to lead us according to His perfect plan, and as we drove to the new church one Sunday morning we prayed that He would make His will crystal clear.

As we pulled into the church parking lot, we were surprised to see the pastor, whom we had met only once before, coming out to greet us warmly. I asked him about openings in the music ministry, and I was shocked when he said, “Would you like to sing a special today?”

Even more surprising was when he asked if I would like to start a ladies’ class. I was silently thanking and praising God for these opportunities, and for giving us these confirmations that this new church was indeed His will for us.

But God answered our prayers exceedingly abundantly beyond what we could ever imagine or think! (Ephesians 3:20). As we walked into the sanctuary for the first time, there on the back wall greeting all who entered there was a huge banner with the full text of Acts 1:8, the very verse that had led us to this church in the first place!

God doesn’t ask or expect us to always understand His plan, to know how He will provide us with opportunities, or to anticipate our destination. All He asks is obedience, for us to take that first step of faith just as Abraham did when God told him to leave behind his country, idols, power and wealth and to set out for the Promised Land (Genesis 12:1-4). May we always hear, follow, and obey His call, for we cannot begin to imagine the countless blessings (1 Corinthians 2:9) with which He will reward our faithfulness!

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  

Copyright 2025 Laurie Collett

Transitions: Triplets of Surrender – Following Him

 

Everyone undergoes physical transitions throughout life, from birth, through aging, to death. For those who place their trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), their spiritual transitions from death in sin to being born again (John 3:3-8) to abundant and eternal life (John 10:10; 3:16) are of infinitely greater significance than their physical transitions.

Once we hated God (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9; Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; Romans 1:30), loved darkness (John 3:19), and fed our fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 8:5,13). Even after we are saved, we still have our sin nature and must contend with this evil lurking within (Romans 7:14-25). To be more like Christ, we must follow Him, meaning to obey Him (James 4:6-8), yield to His Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30), and emulate Him, or model our life after His (Philippians 3:10).

Just as God is love (1 John 4:8), light (1 John 1:5) and spirit (John 4:24), the child of God who follows Him begins to walk in love (Ephesians 5:2), walk in light (3 John 1:4), and walk in spirit (Romans 8:1,4; Galatians 5:16,25).

For God’s children, the transitions marking the milestones of spiritual growth define their Christian walk as they grow in wisdom, or knowledge of the truth (Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18), holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Peter 3:11), and faith (2 Thessalonians 1:3; Jude 1:20).

We are saved by grace through faith, not by works, yet we are His workmanship, and He has saved us for a purpose (Ephesians 2:8-10). Accomplishing that purpose requires complete dependence on His guidance, direction and timing. It is like an intricate dance, following God’s lead (Matthew 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; 10:21; Luke 9:23) as He shows us what actions to take, where to go, and when to move or to wait (Psalm 27:14; 32:8; 37:34;119:105; Proverbs 3:5-6; 20:22).

The most difficult transition of our Christian walk may be from total self-reliance, to laying some gifts on His altar, to complete dependence on God. All good gifts come from Him (James 1:17) and our salvation was bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23), so we must consecrate to Him, for His purpose, all our time, talents, and possessions. We must realize that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), so we must yield our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), and that all things are then possible with God (Matthew 19:26).

Ballroom dancers with great technique and superb floorcraft will lose every competition if they dance off time. But even being on time to the music is no guarantee of good results if the dancers do the right steps with good musicality but at the wrong time, crashing into another couple because the man misjudged when he should move out or because the woman decided to step out on her own rather than to follow the man’s lead.

When our son first learned to ballroom dance at 5 years of age, his teacher explained that waltz music is counted as One-Two-Three (3 beats per measure) and that he should step out on beat One. After listening to the music for a while, he gave his teacher a puzzled look and said “But there are so many Ones in this song!”

And there are so many “Ones” in the music of life, so many tantalizing opportunities that seem right even if they may lead to death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). We think we know how to do the steps, which direction to head, and even how to follow the cues around us, but if we fail to listen to God’s perfect timing (Mark 1:15; Galatians 4:4, 1 Peter 5:6) we are doomed to failure.

Do we “follow our heart” (which is deceitful and wicked; Jeremiah 17:9) and ask God’s blessing on our plans after the fact, or do we pray first (1 Thessalonians 5:17), asking Him to show us not only what to do, but where and when to do it?  (James 4:2-3) May we surrender completely to His will in yielding submission, anticipating the joy of fulfilling His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:5,9; Philippians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:11) as He leads us through the dance of life into eternal life in Heaven!

© 2014 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Triplets of Faith: Were Adam and Eve Saved?

The common element in different covenants God made with mankind throughout Biblical history is our faith in Him, as reflected in three true Gospels. Faith is our belief in God Whom we cannot see directly (Hebrews 11:1-3), although His creation reflects His excellence (Psalm 19:1). Without this faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). 
 

How do we demonstrate our faith in God?  Faith is manifest in our obedience to Him (1 Samuel 15:22; James 2), yet each of us has disobeyed God (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3). Sin, or disobedience, is always the result of pride and/or unbelief. 

Thankfully, God can take the smallest seed of faith we can muster and grow itinto faith that could move mountains (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:5-6). Paradoxically, He shows His love for us by punishing us when we disobey, just as a loving Father does His children (Hebrews 12:5-11).

The specific requirements of what He asked the faithful to believe and to do differed with each covenant, or promise that God made to His chosen people (Hebrews 11). God did not reveal His entire plan of salvation or Who He is all at once (Isaiah 55:9), nor will we able to understand Him in His infinite glory until we see Him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Despite their disobedience that ultimately led to every person being born with a sin nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:18), I believe that Adam and Eve were saved because they knew Who God was, and they obeyed Him before the Fall. They recognized that He created them (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7) and everything else, and that He provided for them (Genesis 1:29; 2:9).

Before Adam and Eve disobeyed God, it appears that they enjoyed daily fellowship with Him, speaking with Him as He walked in the garden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). They obeyed God in that Adam named all the animals as God requested, and they both kept and dressed the garden (Genesis 2:15,19-20).

Adam believed what God had done in creating a wife for Him (Genesis 2:21-22), and he recognized the significance of that creation and of their union (Genesis 2:23-24) as one flesh – a forerunner or type of the union between Christ and His Bride the Church (Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-32)

Despite this blissful existence with God in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve fell prey to Satan’s deception when the serpent convinced Eve to disobey God by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:1-6). God, being holy and just, had to punish their sin (Genesis 3:16-19) and banished them from the Garden of Eden.

Yet their banishment from the garden was for their own salvation, for had they stayed there and eaten of the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever in their sinful, corrupted state, in their aging bodies subject to sickness and pain (Genesis 3:2-24).

In a futile attempt to cover their own sin, symbolized by their nakedness, with their own works, Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together (Genesis 3:7). But God covered their nakedness with animal skins (Genesis 3: 21), representing the blood atonement (Leviticus 17:11), or “scarlet thread,” that would culminate in the shed blood of His Son (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22).

The perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), not only covered sin but removed it as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). When God looks at all those who place their faith in Christ, He no longer sees their sin, but only the perfect righteousness of His Son (1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 1:8; Philippians 1:11; 3:9).

Although the first couple was cast out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-23), Eve continued to show her faith in God’s promise that her seed would destroy the serpent’s seed (Genesis 3:15; 4:1, 25). Adam’s faith is not spelled out, but he is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:38), suggesting that he was also saved by faith.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve resulted in all their descendants being born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12-14). Except for Jesus Himself, all thereafter sinned and came short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and none has perfectly kept His commandments. So salvation cannot be based on self-righteousness or works, or none would be saved (Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:8-9). Rather, it is based on believing what God has revealed about Himself at that point in history -- believing that He is Who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.

© 2013 Laurie Collett
Reposted from the archives

Triplets of Christ-Mind: Be Faithful Even in Danger, for God Is Faithful

As we have seen in previous posts, fulfillment in our Christian walk requires knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Knowledge refers to having learned God’s Word, or at least having an intellectual appreciation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 1:1,14,18) Who came to earth in human form to be the perfect, sinless sacrifice to reconcile sinful man to Holy God (2 Corinthians 5:18). He rose again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) to give all who trust in Him everlasting life (John 3:16).

Wisdom moves us from head knowledge to heart knowledge, as we realize His awesome power, justice and holiness and fear the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), knowing that we are sinners deserving eternal punishment in hell (Romans 6:23). But then, as we are born again (John 3:3-8), we experience relief that He paid the debt we could not (Philippians 4:7), and joy in our salvation (Psalm 35:9).

Too many Christians stop there, and do not gain understanding by applying God’s Word to their lives. But for those who show understanding by keeping His commandments (John 14:15), telling others about Him, and serving Him (Matthew 28:19-20), what happens when it becomes inconvenient, unpopular, or even dangerous to do so?

For a Godly answer to this question, we need look no further than Daniel, who, as we have seen before, exemplifies the triplets of Christ-mind. King Darius, who had taken the Chaldean kingdom from Belshazzar as Daniel had prophesied (Daniel 5:30-31), set up a brain trust led by Daniel as the chief of three presidents commanding 120 princes (Daniel 6:1-3).

The number 120 is interesting as it is 3 (God’s perfect number representing the Trinity) times 40, which generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or waiting on the Lord. For example, Jesus was tempted by the devil for forty days in the desert (Luke 4:2); Moses lived forty years in Egypt and forty years in the desert (Exodus 24:18, 34:1-28) before God led him to set His people free; and Elijah traveled for 40 days to Mount Horeb to hear God’s plan for his future (1 Kings 19:8-19).

Given the nature of human politics, it is not surprising that the other presidents and 120 princes resented Daniel’s power over them, despite his excellent spirit, and that they plotted against him. They looked hard for “occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; because “he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him (Daniel 6:3-4).

They realized that the only way they could prove him disloyal to the kingdom was to make Daniel choose between his loyalty to the king and his obedience to God (Daniel 6:5). Extending their scheme to involve the king, presidents, governors, and the princes, counselors and captains, they convinced the king to issue a decree that anyone who prayed to any god or man other than the king for 30 days would be thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:6-7).

Upon hearing the decree, did Daniel cave to political pressure, tremble in fear for his life, or defiantly rebel against the king? No, he just continued worshipping God as he had always done. He awaited confirmation that the decree was signed; he returned home; and he opened his windows toward Jerusalem. As was his habit three times a day, he kneeled, prayed, and gave thanks to God (Daniel 6:10).

Daniel’s enemies found him doing this, appeared before the king, and confronted him with how Daniel had broken the law by worshipping God three times a day. The king regretted his decision, desperately wanted to save Daniel, and worked all day trying to find an escape clause, but his officials would not hear of it (Daniel 6:11-15).

To avoid losing face, King Darius commanded them to capture Daniel, and he had him thrown into the lions’ den, but he spoke these words to him: Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Amazing that a pagan king could utter such words of faith, hope, and encouragement! To make Daniel’s situation even more difficult, they found a large rock, set it across the den’s opening, and sealed the den shut (Daniel 6:16-17). This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ rising from the dead after three days in the sealed tomb.

All night, as the king wondered about Daniel’s fate, he fasted, refrained from listening to music, and stayed awake. Early in the morning he arose, hurried to the lions’ den, and cried out to Daniel. He called him servant of the living God, proclaimed that Daniel served God continuously, and asked if God was able to deliver Daniel from the lions (Daniel 6:18-20).

Daniel greeted the king reverently, and answered that God had sent his angel, who shut the lions’ mouths, and that they did not harm him. He explained that he was innocent before God and before the king, for he had done him no wrong. The king rejoiced for Daniel’s safety, commanded that he be released, and found him unharmed, “because he believed in his God” (Daniel 6:21-23).

Once again Scripture shows us salvation through faith, by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-10), with the proof of faith (in man’s eyes, for God knows our hearts regardless of our works) being obedience (James 2:14-26). Daniel was innocent not because he had never sinned (Romans 3:23), but because he trusted God, was faithful to obey Him no matter what consequences he might face, and was therefore righteous before God (Romans 4:6-22).

Those who had accused Daniel did not fare well, for the king commanded the capture and casting into the lions’ den of these men, their children and their wives. Just in case any scoffers might be wondering if these were emasculated lions who lacked the strength to attack Daniel, Scripture tells us that the lions broke all the bones of Daniel’s enemies before they even reached the bottom of the den! (Daniel 6:24).

God rewarded Daniel for His faithfulness by sparing His life, allowing him to prosper under the reign of King Darius, and even ensuring his long-term position under the next king, Cyrus the Persian. Even more amazing, God worked through this trial (Romans 8:28) in Daniel’s life to show His mighty power to King Darius, who in turn proclaimed it worldwide! To all people, nations, and languages throughout the earth, the king wrote, offered them peace, and issued a decree about the God of Daniel, the living God, Who is forever faithful (Daniel 6:25-26;28).

The king’s decree was for men throughout the kingdom to fear, respect, and recognize God for His indestructible kingdom, His eternal reign, and His mercy. The God Who delivered Daniel is a God Who delivers and rescues those who trust Him, as He performs miracles in heaven, in earth, and toward His people (Daniel 6:26-27).

May we have the understanding, faithfulness, and courage to follow Daniel’s example by trusting God’s Word and obeying Him, even when it is unpopular, politically incorrect, or life-threatening to do so. God will reward us richly by giving us abundant life, using us for His glory, and rewarding us in our eternal life with Him!

© 2016 Laurie Collett