What Are You Called For?

What Did God Call You For? (I Pet 2:20)

Does God really call people to serve Him in particular ways? Who does God call, and how do they know? Could God be calling me to serve Him?

Anybody receiving the Gospel’s message will at least wonder about these things; and it’s natural to bring them to prayer from time to time.

If you take a poll, though, you’ll find that most people think of callings and vocations solely in the context of consecrated religious lives, such as pastors, teachers, missionaries and the like. And that’s tragic, because all people are called by their Creator to lead lives modeled after the virtues demonstrated by the life of Christ, and all are called to devote their lives to serving Him.

It’s a part of our relationship with God that He has woven into the very fabric of our being - all people are called by God, to know Him, to love Him, and to give their lives over to the service of Him.

But what path does God want for me? How can I find it? How do I follow it?

The story of Jonah offers us a glimpse of one, who - upon hearing God’s call - chooses to flee rather than follow. God keeps calling, and Jonah finally responds. Even those less reluctant than Jonah can take some time to respond. Samuel fails at first to recognize his call; but God patiently persists until Samuel hears. Whether our call comes in being knocked from a horse, in the Spirit’s voice from a burning bush, with an angelic annunciation, or in the stark quiet of the whispering wind, God calls each of us where we live, and invites us to respond.

The following are areas where you are called of God:

1. To do good as Christ did. Do not think that you will be rewarded, recognized or appreciated for the good things you do. Many times you will be misunderstood, maligned or taken for granted. Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? NO there’s a cross for everyone. And there’s a cross for thee. "But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps." (I Pet 2:20)

2. To be a blessing. "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (I Pet. 3:9) Do not try to play one upsmanship in your debates. Instead, bring benefit, encouragement and blessings to others.

3. To an eternal inheritance. "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins commited under the first covenant." (Heb 9:13) View everything from an eternal perspective.

4. To fellowship with Christ. "God, who has called you into fellowship with His son Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful." (I Cor 1:9) Enjoy His companionship. Communion with HIm in prayer throughout the day.

5. To Holy Service. "Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. No one takes on this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was." (Heb. 5:1) Be certain of your calling and do not retreat, relinquish it or allow yourself to be relegated to mediocrity.

6. To Freedom. "You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge your sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13) Do not be burdened by rules, other peoples’ expectations or your own personality perfectionisms.

7. To holiness. "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." (I Thes 4:7) Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. Without purity God cannot use us as He refuses to empower a vessel that is already occupied with pollutants.

8. To heavenly rewards. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has calledme heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:14) Move ahead with maturity in all areas of life as there is a reward for your progress.

9. To hope. "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and the exceedingly great power for us who believe." (Eph. 1:17-19) Let us respond and resound with hopefulness for the possibilities of great things to come in us and through us and with us in the days ahead.