Many are called
“For many are called, but few have chosen.” Matthew 22:14
Twenty years ago, God placed a desire to write in my heart. At the time, I tried, but the results were far from great. Today, I write a daily blog of encouragement, and I enjoy it immensely. I have no formal training and no childhood dreams of becoming a writer. I don’t aspire to be on a bestseller list or expect to become a well-known author. My heart’s desire is simply to help and encourage others by helping people avoid the traps I once fell into and to guide as many as I can to discover lives of significance and purpose. I started this journey later in life, and I pray my example will inspire others to answer God’s call at a much younger age than I did.
Here’s the point: God has called me to write at this stage in my life, so I do it. Many are more qualified, and others have more availability. Some use their gift of writing to seek fame, never considering how they might use their God-given ability for the Kingdom of God. Others think about it but delay, caught up in the pressing issues of daily life.
Yet, only a few take the time to answer God’s invitation right now. Here’s the thing: God doesn’t always call the qualified, but He always qualifies those He calls. Answering His call is less about being prepared and more about being willing.
In today’s reading, Jesus told a parable that illustrates this truth. The invitation to a great banquet is first sent to the upper class, who reject it. The king then extends the invitation to those in the highways and byways, the outsiders. The Kingdom becomes filled with the lower class because they were willing to answer the call and accept the invitation.
So here’s the question for you: What is in your heart to do? What have you been putting off? What dreams or ideas have you dismissed because they seem too daunting to pursue?
Each of us has something we can do right now that could lead to the next open door. It doesn’t matter if you’re experienced in that area or not—if God has placed it in your heart, He will equip you and lead you through the process. The key is to surrender that idea or desire to the Lord and allow Him to guide you.
Today, I encourage you to set aside time to pursue what God has put in your heart. Maybe it’s writing, speaking, or teaching. Perhaps it’s creating art, coaching, or mentoring the next generation. Whatever it is, surrender it to God today. He will guide you, equip you, and open the necessary doors to make your calling effective.
Remember this: Very few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:26-27
Answer His call. He is ready to do incredible things through you.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 22:1-14
1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,
3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’
5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.
9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’
10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Daily Dose 