Romans 1:6-7b

And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

(v6-7, NIV)

The call is from God. God is the one who called Paul and he calls you if you are a true believer and follower. Therefore, it's not really what we do, but what God does. When we tell others about Jesus, we aren't the ones who convert, but God does. As mentioned before, we are not to play God and magically pick and choose who to evangelize to based on whether they are called or not. How would we know? We are to do what Jesus did and spread the seed of the word across all soils. It's interesting the way John Piper puts it. He says, "I can issue a call for conversion. Only God can issue a converting call.".

This brings up another question. Can you resist his call? His call isn't one where you're dragged along kicking and screaming. Was Paul drawn along kicking and screaming? He was passionately and fervently working for God and his gospel.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

(2 Corinthians 4:4-6, NIV)

We are and have been blinded by the god of this age. However, when Jesus Christ the Lord is preached, God can make is light shine in us. We see him as he truly is. It's not like we have the blinders on anymore, but we can actually come and embrace him in all his glory. Seeing and knowing him for who he is, we'd want to get to know him more and worship and follow him. This following of him is or results in the obedience that comes from faith, which is the goal of preaching to others. It's truly amazing that God would allow us to be a part in this process; what a joy it is.