Today's readings are 1 Samuel 3.1-21 and Acts 16.1-22.
See today the call of Paul to go to Macedonia. What do we make of this call? Should we expect such a call ourselves, to tell us what God's good pleasure for us it?
First, we observe that Paul was engaged in service to his neighbors wherever Christ had placed him. We likewise should work diligently in the vocation God has given us wherever we happen to be.
Second, we observe that Paul's call was something very clear which helped Paul know where he was to go. I think we can safely say that if we receive a very clear vision from God telling us to specifically go and do something which is in accord with the Scripture we should make every reasonable effort to do it. God will provide a way and we will be able to go serve the people our Lord would direct us to.
Third, we observe that this is one of only a few times in the New Testament when someone seems to be told by supernatural means where to go in service to Christ. If it were to be expected as a common thing we would see it more. So we don't want to pin our hopes and plans on receiving a supernatural and obvious call from God. We normally can expect that our Lord will provide us with a vocation and a place in which to carry on that vocation. Our job is to diligently serve the Lord wherever we are.
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