His Calling

Charles Colson

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing” — Ezra 1:1

Serving at the time as provincial governor of Northern Italy, St. Ambrose was called in this capacity in 374 to the cathedral in Milan, where a riot was threatening between two rival factions of Christians, each intent on winning its own candidate’s nomination to the bishopric.

Ambrose quelled the riot but was unable to persuade the warring parties to agree on a bishop. Finally someone suggested Ambrose himself, and the nomination was enthusiastically greeted on all sides. In vain Ambrose protested that he was not even christened nor called to this position. He was hurriedly baptized, then ordained, and finally consecrated bishop — all within the space of a single week.

The Lord calls each of us to do his work. In Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah responded to God’s call by saying “Here am I. Send me.” Today in prayer, consider how you answer the Lord’s call and then follow Him in all that you do.

“I would rather walk through a mile of burning brimstone every night than spend over again those midnight hours when I fought against the call of God.” — Dr. Robert Bruce

God’s Word: “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing” — 2 Chronicles 36:22

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †