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How Do We Hear God’s Call Today?
An excerpt from the Preface of Daring Decision, a new devotional book by M. R. Conrad—available to preorder now from Church Works Media
“I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” (Isaiah 6:8)
How do we hear God’s call today? Isaiah received a vision of the throne room of God. He saw angels—the seraphim—and heard their voices, singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). He felt the ground beneath him shake. Isaiah tasted the coals of fire on his lips and smelled the smoke. His emotions welled within him as he realized his sinful smallness in the overwhelming presence of the Creator of the universe. Then, Isaiah heard the unmistakable call of God: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” (Isaiah 6:8).
God’s Call in Scripture
The echo of the call of God rings throughout the centuries. Adam and Eve heard the voice of God in the Garden of Eden as they walked with God. Abraham answered God’s call out of pagan Ur and into Canaan. Moses discovered God calling to him from a burning bush. Samuel literally heard God calling his name at the outset of his prophetic ministry. David responded to God’s call through the prophet Samuel’s anointing. Struck down by a light from heaven on the road to Damascus, Paul cowered as the voice of Jesus rang from the sky. In many ways and in vastly differing places, God has called men and women to serve Him throughout the ages.
Yet, not all of God’s callings in Scripture were so dramatic. Except in pivotal moments of God’s revelation to man, the vast majority of God’s calls have been much more subtle. For example, God led Timothy step by step from his youth. His mother and grandmother raised him, teaching him the Word of God (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). He faithfully served in his local church in Lystra. His testimony spread in the region and caught the attention of the apostle Paul (Acts 16:2). Still a young man, Timothy apprenticed under the apostle Paul and joined his missionary journeys (Acts 16:3; 19:22; 20:4). He became Paul’s trusted representative (Philippians 2:19-23). His later ministry included pastoral work in Ephesus. For Timothy, the call was gradual as he followed God’s leading into greater arenas of service.
God’s Call Continues
As the first century closed, God ceased giving direct revelation to His people. The canon of Scripture stood complete, ending with the book of Revelation and its stern warning about adding to it (Revelation 22:18). The gift of prophecy, essential during the church’s foundation, faded from the scene (Ephesians 2:20).
Yet, God did not stop seeking men and women to serve Him. For over twenty centuries, God has continued to call individuals to follow Him into His work in their own countries and across the world, leading His servants into ministries at pivotal points in their lives. We have many modern examples—such as the ones highlighted in Daring Decision—of how God’s guidance came and how God’s people discerned it, risking their lives in daring endeavors for the cause of Christ and His Great Commission.
However, just because God led someone in a certain way in the past does not mean that this is the way He leads everyone. In some cases, believers may misunderstand God’s guidance, and God works despite their misapprehensions. Discerning believers must always test subjective experiences and the testimonies of others against the objective truths of God’s Word.
God’s Leading and Our Reading
As we seek to discern God’s leading in our own lives, our confidence in God is bolstered when we observe how God leads, strengthens, and sustains His servants in any age. This is the purpose behind Daring Decision, a new devotional containing thirty-one daily readings—one month of mini missionary biographies.
Daring Decision could help you establish a new habit: Instead of replacing a morning time with God in His Word, consider adding a second time with Him before bed or around the dinner table with your family, reading this devotional and accompanying Scripture passages. May the Lord use His Word and the accounts of His working in this book to call you to a greater commitment to His work.
Start your journey of daring faith with 31 stories of courage and commitment in Daring Decision by M. R. Conrad.
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A 31-Day Journey with Those Who Followed God’s Leading
Discover how God led men and women throughout history to serve Him in daring ways. Daring Decision combines missionary biography and devotional reflection, offering one month of short, engaging readings that encourage faith and obedience. How did God guide believers like Adoniram Judson, Lottie Moon, Eric Liddell, Jonathan Goforth, Charles Simeon, and Isobel Kuhn? None were superheroes. All looked to God for direction as they dared to extend the gospel into the dark places of this world.
Book 3 in the Daring Devotion series.
