This week I was overcome with a very, very strong feeling that I should be writing about the subject of bird calls.

Sure, I’m no ornithologist. I barely can pronounce the word! But as spring begins, the birds are back and chatting it up in the garden. They flit from tree to tree and then to one or more of the birdhouses hung in the old, dead peach tree as they look for a likely spot to build a nest. As they search, they call to one another.

Who could mistake the call of the Chickadee as anything but the sound of the bird’s own name? Cardinals call out while they fly; “Chip. Chip. Chip.”

When I was little, the call of the Blue Jay sounded like “Dad! Dad!” — probably because my brothers and I would have used that call ourselves as we waged our childish skirmishes while Dad worked nearby in his garden.

Yes, bird calls are fascinating, even to those of us who are fairly ignorant about them. It gives us pause to wonder what they are saying.

We also have an innate curiosity about what God is telling us from day to day, don’t we?

Notice the opening sentence of this column. I had a very, very strong feeling. However, I am not called. Oh, I could pretend that God whispered in my ear on an airplane, as one very prominent writer of women’s books claims. I could even write a book, call it “The Beezbul,” or some such name; filled with supposed revelations by God himself, delivered by an angel.

Or I could be brutally honest with myself and you, by saying that I had a very, very strong feeling.

Would my readers be more edified if I told them that “God laid it on my heart” to write this? No, at least not for the right reasons, they wouldn’t.

Would it lend more authority to my words if I said I was “called by God” to write this, or that, or anything at all? Oh, I truly hope not, for your sakes! Be like the Bereans, and make sure that every word you believe and take to heart is based in Scripture.

Many of us lack confidence that we are doing the best we can at any given task. These words, “I was called” may be a confidence booster, but it lays responsibility for our own actions on the holy and perfect God, rather than ourselves. Dare we presume to do that? It is downright disrespectful, to say the least.

In the Bible, there were strict parameters for those who claim to speak from God (Deuteronomy 18:14-22).

There is mention of our calling, but it is a calling that is shared by all Christians; that of a life devoted to God and then preserved through eternity. (Romans 1:6)

We are told to make it secure (1 Peter 1:10).

We are to live worthy of that calling.

“I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1, NASB).

Perhaps the most important reason of all for us not to claim special “callings” by God – it divides us rather than unites us. We are all called in the same hope.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Christine (Tina) Berglund

I read an article yesterday in reference to the Gospel and a statement which startled me.  “He has to be sold before he can do a selling job.”  In a sense the statement is true, for we are teaching the Gospel and trying to convert people to Christianity,  but let’s not phrase the Gospel in business terms as though we were Wall Street.

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles o the oracles of God;  and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the Word of righteousness:  for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”     Hebrews 5:12-14

I believe I know the meaning they had behind the statement, but perhaps didn’t state it as clearly as they should.  How would you feel upon hearing these words?   No one wants to be looked upon as though they were a commodity or product to be sold an idea.  It becomes nothing more than a sales job, and once the person is sold, the seller moves on.  This is not how Christians are to view people.  New converts, who obey the Gospel need much encouragement.

Is this not how we are with children when they are learning to walk?   We don’t let them fend for themselves, but encourage them, and when they fall, we help them back up, and urge them to try again, until one day they are walking on their own.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby:. . . .”     I Peter 2:2

It is true, a new convert needs to study on their own, but there will be many questions about various subjects in which they need teaching, and it cannot all be learned in a few lessons.  Just as the child I referred to, it takes much time, patience, kindness, encouragement, persistence and study to help them grow spiritually in Christ.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever.  Amen.”     II Peter 3:18

“But speaking the Truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians  4:15-16

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; . . . .”     Colossians 1:9-10

May we always remember, we too were once new converts.

“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love:  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:2-3

Eileen Light