When I respond to God’s call, Who will go for Us? (Isaiah 6:8), I must be certain that I am not motivated by sentiment. The human heart is tender and can easily be touched by visions of starving thousands, or multitudes begging for the gospel. Except for those whom the Spirit has touched, people do not beg for the gospel; they beg to be left alone.
If sentiment is my reason for yielding to God’s call, it will not be long before my humanitarian impulses change to doubt, criticism, and finally despair. My human impulses may be sympathetic, but they are not redemptive; and the world’s encompassment by sin is far too strong for my puny sympathy. I need more than emotional involvement to push back the kingdom of Satan; I need the invincible power of God. Jesus Christ was motivated by two overwhelming things: sacrificial, redemptive love, and the call of God, which required His obedience. Unless the same two forces are active in me, my response to God’s call will be a short-lived failure.
Nor must I respond to God’s call by manipulation. If I respond to my pastor’s call or my missionary’s call or my friend’s call, I am simply asking to be put at the mercy of their resources. But if I respond to God’s call, I am placing myself at the mercy of His resources. How can I tell whether it is God or others issuing the call? By time. If God is calling, the call will grow stronger each passing day.
There is only one way to be ready for God’s call: to be touched by a coal from the altar (Isaiah 6:6-7). My response is to come to the altar; God’s response is to purge me and issue me the call. The result will be a never ending procession of sons being brought to glory (Hebrews 2:10).
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!’ (Romans 10:15).
Daily with the King 