2012-03-08 - Call to Action

James 1:22 (NIV) "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

The Old Testament is full of examples of men and women who listened to the word of God and acted upon it. Abraham was told by God to leave his family, friends, and home and go to another land. Abraham did as God told him, and became the father of the Hebrew nation. Moses, despite his hesitation and lack of faith in his own abilities, listened to God and went to tell the Pharoah to set the Hebrews free from slavery in Egypt. As a result of his action, Moses led the Hebrews out of captivity, through the Red Sea and desert, and to the Promised Land (though he was only allowed to see the Promised Land, and not enter it, due to his being outside God's will when he struck a rock in anger).

Each of the prophets in the Old Testament heard God's call and acted. One notable example is the reluctant prophet, Jonah. When God called him, Jonah tried to avoid God's instructions, and he fled. A violent storm, along with a few days inside a large fish, convinced Jonah to do what God told him to do. As a result of his actions, the people of Nineveh heard God's condemnation of their sins, repented, and were saved from destruction.

Are you listening to God's word? What is God calling you to do today? Will you do what He says?

 Richard Moser, Jr
http://www.cfdevotionals.org