Revealed in Prayer: Called to Serve

Have you ever missed an important phone call because you didn’t recognize the number? You let it go to voicemail, only to discover later it was exactly the opportunity you’d been hoping for. We live surrounded by notifications, yet often miss the most important messages – especially when God is calling.

Here’s what I’ve learned after years in ministry: God rarely calls the way we expect. Moses wasn’t at a prayer retreat when God spoke through that burning bush. He was doing his job, probably thinking about water sources and predators, when suddenly an ordinary Tuesday became the day everything changed. The divine often breaks through in the middle of our mundane routines. Our Tomorrow First campaign embodies this truth – God calls us to invest in tomorrow’s ministry today, not because we have all the answers, but because we trust the One who does.

Whether you’re exploring faith for the first time or you’ve been following Jesus for decades, today’s message carries a vital truth: God has something specific to say to you, right where you are, exactly as you are.

Our Tomorrow First journey continues to deepen. Two weeks ago, Abraham and Sarah showed us God’s perfect timing – how divine promises arrive exactly when needed. Last week, Jacob discovered at Bethel that any ordinary place becomes sacred when God shows up.

Today, Moses takes us further. He doesn’t just receive promises or recognize presence – he’s invited into partnership. This progression matters: from receiving to recognizing to responding. God’s tomorrow isn’t just something we wait for; it’s something we help create. Tomorrow First isn’t just about building systems; it’s about building faith systems where future generations can clearly hear God’s voice, just as Moses heard at the burning bush.

I recently heard about a woman working at a community bank in a small Kansas town. When her local church desperately needed someone for Wednesday night children’s ministry, she was certain she wasn’t the right person. “I can barely help with homework,” she protested. “Find someone who actually knows the Bible stories.”

But something kept tugging at her heart. Every Wednesday evening, driving past that church and seeing families arrive, she felt an unexplainable pull. Finally, she agreed to help “just once.”

That first night, a quiet third-grader asked her, “Does God notice regular kids like us?” She found herself sharing how Moses was just a regular shepherd when God called him. The child’s eyes widened with wonder.

Five years later, she leads the entire midweek program. That same third-grader, now in middle school, volunteers with younger children every Wednesday. “Someone showed me that God uses regular people,” they explain. Sometimes our burning bush looks like a fellowship hall full of elementary students on an ordinary Wednesday night. Sometimes Tomorrow First means saying yes today to shape faith tomorrow.

Let’s take a closer look at our scripture passage for today, where we find Moses deep in the wilderness, tending his father-in-law’s sheep. This isn’t the prince of Egypt we met earlier in Exodus – this is a man forty years into hiding, a fugitive who killed an Egyptian overseer and fled for his life. He’s built a new existence far from Egypt’s power and his people’s pain, married with children, seemingly content with obscurity.

Then something catches his eye. A bush engulfed in flames, yet the leaves remain green, the branches intact. It defies logic, demands investigation. Moses decides to take a closer look, wondering aloud why this bush keeps burning without turning to ash. This moment of curiosity will reshape history.

What happens next reveals something profound about how God works. The divine voice doesn’t call out immediately. Instead, verse 4 tells us God waits – waits until Moses turns aside, waits until he draws near. Only then does God speak: “Moses! Moses!” The double name, spoken with urgency and tenderness, makes this personal. God knows exactly who stands before this burning bush.

When God unveils the mission – confronting Pharaoh, liberating an enslaved nation – Moses panics. He throws up every excuse imaginable. “Who am I to do this? What’s your name? They won’t believe me. I can’t speak well. Send someone else!” Five desperate attempts to escape this calling.

God’s answer? “I will be with you.” Not a pep talk, not a list of qualifications Moses possesses. Just presence. Just promise. Just enough.

That promise of divine presence transforms everything – not just for Moses, but for how we understand God’s calling today. John Wesley, who founded Methodism, saw this pattern throughout scripture: God always moves first, drawing us before we even know we’re being drawn. Wesley called this prevenient grace – God already at work before we’re aware. That inexplicable pull the bank teller felt each time she drove past the church? That was God’s presence already calling, already preparing, already promising “I will be with you.”

Wesley insisted this calling extends to every baptized Christian. Not just pastors – everyone. Your baptism was your ordination into the priesthood of all believers. The only question is where and how you’ll serve.

But here’s the Methodist distinctive: we believe serving others transforms us. It’s not just about meeting needs; it’s about sanctification – becoming more like Christ through active love. When we say yes to God’s call, we don’t just change circumstances; we’re changed ourselves.

This understanding revolutionizes how we view church. Ministry isn’t what professional clergy do while others watch. Ministry is what the whole body of Christ does together, each using Spirit-given gifts to heal God’s world.

God’s calling comes in countless ways today. Some feel that persistent tug toward professional ministry – that thought that won’t leave you alone about seminary or mission work. If that’s you, those doubts you’re feeling? Moses had the same ones. Feeling unqualified doesn’t disqualify you; it might be exactly why God’s calling.

Others hear God through volunteer opportunities. Maybe every time we mention needing Sunday school teachers, something stirs inside you. Or you keep thinking about that STEPMC announcement, wondering if you could make a difference. These aren’t random thoughts – they might be your burning bush moment.

Our Tomorrow First campaign exemplifies this calling pattern. We’re not just fixing heating and cooling – we’re answering God’s call to create comfortable spaces where future Moseses can encounter the divine without distraction. When a child sits in a properly heated classroom learning about God’s love, or when our food cupboard continues serving families because our building remains functional, we’re participating in God’s liberating work. Like Moses, we might feel unqualified to raise these funds, but God promises to be with us in this journey of faith.

Still others discover calling in daily work. I know mechanics who offer free repairs to single parents, retired teachers who tutor struggling students. Your professional skills, life experiences, even your struggles become tools for divine purposes. For those carrying past failures: Moses was literally a fugitive. Your past doesn’t disqualify you; often it uniquely equips you to help others facing similar struggles.

The good news is God never calls us to serve alone. The same “I Am” who promised Moses “I’ll be with you” makes that promise to us today. When we say yes to God’s call – whether to preach sermons or teach toddlers – the Creator of the universe accompanies us on the journey.

This promise sustains our Tomorrow First efforts. We don’t undertake this campaign alone – the God who provided manna in the wilderness and multiplied loaves and fish will multiply our gifts to create spaces where tomorrow’s disciples encounter divine presence. Every commitment, every prayer, every act of faith participates in God’s future.

This isn’t motivational speaking or wishful thinking. This is the truth that sustained Moses through Pharaoh’s resistance, strengthened David facing Goliath, and empowered Mary to bear Christ into the world. The Holy Spirit provides gifts we didn’t know we possessed, wisdom beyond our experience, and strength for every challenge.

Here’s what’s remarkable: God delights in using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. The Spirit takes our small offerings and multiplies them into kingdom impact. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Trust isn’t about seeing the entire route; it’s about taking the next faithful step with the One who sees everything.

This week, spend five minutes each morning asking, “God, how are you calling me to serve?” Pay attention to recurring thoughts, needs that tug at your heart, or opportunities that keep presenting themselves.

Take one concrete step toward what you’ve sensed in today’s prayer experience. Have coffee with someone whose service inspires you. Visit the Tomorrow First section of our website to explore how God might be calling you to support our campaign through prayer and financial commitment. Try one volunteer opportunity with no long-term commitment.

If you sense deeper calling toward professional ministry, let’s talk. Email me this week. We have resources, mentors, and a discernment process to help you explore.

Tomorrow First means trusting that God’s future breaks into today through ordinary people responding to divine whispers. Moses thought he was just investigating a strange fire; God saw Israel’s deliverer. You might think you’re just helping out; God sees kingdom transformation.

What matters isn’t our qualifications but our willingness to turn aside, to pay attention, to say “Here I am.” The calling you’ve been sensing? It will be revealed in prayer.

Will you pray with me?

Calling God, help us recognize our burning bushes. Give us courage to turn aside, to listen, to respond. Transform our ordinary willingness into extraordinary kingdom service. Amen.

In crafting today’s sermon, I employed AI assistants like Claude and Apple Intelligence, yet the ultimate responsibility for its content rests with me. These tools offered valuable perspectives, but the most influential sermon preparation hinges on biblical study, theological insight, personal reflection, and divine guidance. I see AI as a supportive aid to enrich the sermon process while ensuring my own voice in proclaiming the Word of God.