Called out of the comfort zone…….

Enter Saul.

Saul, son of Kish, a Benjamite, a man of standing.

Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel.

Saul, a head taller than anyone else.

Saul, who was sent out by his father to search for his father’s lost donkeys.

So Saul and a servant journey through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha.  No donkeys.

They went on into the district of Shaalim and through the territory of Benjamin. No donkeys.

When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”

But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”  1 Samuel 9:5-6

So, armed with a quarter of a shekel of silver as a gift, Saul goes to visit Samuel.

Little does he know what is to come from this visit!

Some young women at the well tell them where to find Samuel. He’s on his way to bless a sacrifice.

The day before, God had said to Samuel –

“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.”  1 Samuel 9:16

And here he was!

‘So don’t worry about your donkeys, Saul. I’ll take care of them. I know where they are and I’ll tell you in the morning. For now, come eat with me. You must be hungry. There’s a special reason you’re here and I need to share it with you. The whole of Israel is looking to you for an answer.’

This is Saul’s calling.

And so often when an individual is called by God to take on a special role, what is the response? Just like Saul’s.

‘I am not worthy. I come from an insignificant family. I’m nothing special. Surely there is someone better than me to do this. I can’t. I’m not good enough. Choose someone else.’

But Samuel has already laid aside a special piece of meat to be cooked for Saul.

Samuel anoints Saul with olive oil and kisses him.

Samuel tells Saul exactly where he is going to find his donkeys.

Samuel explains to Saul how he will bump into three men who will take him to worship God at Bethel, where there will be a crowd of prophets and musicians.

Samuel promises Saul that he will be filled with God’s spirit and power and himself prophesy and praise God.

…….and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.  1 Samuel 10:6-7

Because when God gives us a job to do, he equips us to fulfil the task. He gives us the strength and confidence and wisdom to serve him and minister to others.

But if we never step out of our comfort zone into a place of uncertainty and insecurity, how will we ever experience this?

If we never stretch ourselves beyond what we feel confident with, how will we ever need to rely on God’s strength?

If we stick with what we know, how will God ever be able to surprise us?

So after all these amazing have happened exactly how Samuel has laid out (and the detail in these verses is incredible, down to Saul being given two loaves of a bread by a particular man in a particular place at a particular time – check it our for yourself!), Saul is to go and wait for Samuel for seven days.

Seven days! A whole week! That must feel like a lifetime.

Because sometimes we are called to do and sometimes we are called to do nothing….and some of us find it hard to do and some of us find it hard to do nothing!

Let’s remind ourselves of the words of the Methodist Covenant Prayer….are we really willing to be called by God?

I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

Are we ready to pray this prayer and see where God leads us? He may lead us to be a powerful leader like Saul or lead us into the slums of Calcutta like Mother Teresa. He may lead us to open our home or open our purse. He may lead us to be surrounded by the in crowd or standing at the edges with the marginalised. He may lead us into a life of prosperity and good health and success – or to a life where we work for the minimum wage and struggle to make ends meet or a life where we wake up in pain every single day.

Are we ready for that?

The good news is that wherever God leads us, He will be there with us, strengthening us by His power and comforting us by His love.

He is ahead of us, waiting for us, encouraging us on.

He wants us to step out of our comfort zone, so that we can really experience what it is to rely on Him.

It doesn’t matter if we think we can’t, because He can.

It doesn’t matter if we think we are too insignificant, because the God at work in us is God over all.

It doesn’t matter if we think we’re not good enough, because God will be delighted to prove us wrong!

Our confidence does not need to be in ourselves, but in the God of the universe working through us.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13

But until we try, how will we know?