Called to Service

The Story of Scripture: Called to Service 1/9/11
I Samuel 3, Matthew 3:12-4:11, Acts 10:34-48

Today is baptism of the Lord Sunday, a day we remember Jesus being called to service. We read three stories about call, each with a different twist.
The uniqueness of Samuel and Jesus’ call stories, the Call of the Gentiles

Yet, the true uniqueness is that there are as many call stories as people who follow. The commonality is the one who calls. God the Creator creating call stories.

My friends, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before God. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” --I Corinthians 1:26-30

Samuel is about being: Called Before We Knew It

Jesus: Living Out the Theme of Scripture

This story revisits the 3 P's as identified by Brueggeman.
Promise: We do not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God
Prohibition: Do not put the Lord your God to the test
Permission: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only

The Acts story is about the inclusion of the Nations into the people of faith.
The Gentiles: Called Even When Others Didn’t Think So