“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Eph.4:1 NIV)
When some Christians hear of God’s call, they think of the five-fold ministries. The reality is you have a calling. We all do. God doesn’t just call pastors or missionaries. The overwhelming message of scripture is that God calls each of us to a specific purpose and mission. Stress occurs when we lack understanding of our calling.
Let Your Calling Drive Your Life
The Latin word for ‘vocation’ comes from ‘voice’ and means ‘what God has called us to do’. This knowledge will prevent you from getting involved in too many legitimate but irrelevant activities. Unfortunately, many believers are engaged in things that won’t bring out their full potential.
Jesus knew his calling. John 8:14, says, ‘I know where I came from and where I am going” (NIV). Jesus understood his unique purpose and he lived for it. Your life is driven by something. All of our lives are driven by something. Sometimes they’re driven by regret or anger. Sometimes they’re driven by shame, money materialism, or sex.
God wants your calling to drive your life. Take time to get it right in your calling; it will yield many years of fulfillment. You will be happy to invest your energy and abilities in something worthwhile.
Consider and Live Your SHAPE
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom.11 29)
Some years ago, I read an acronym developed by Rick Warren, a US-based Baptist Pastor. In his book, Purpose Driven Life, he clearly stated the meaning of SHAPE as a means to discovering our purpose of existence. His books have proved very useful in many aspects of life. I want to encourage you to think and pray through your specific SHAPE:
- Spiritual gifts
- Heart (what you love to do)
- Abilities
- Personality
- Experiences
God doesn’t give you a calling you’ll find miserable. He’ll call you to do something you enjoy and something you’re good at. God’s gifts and call can never be withdrawn. This is why somebody may be living in sin yet could still display ‘wonderful potentials’. However, if all we have to show the world is our container without good contents, you can be sure of its destination- a trash can.
God has Your Best Interest Always
Some people have wrong notions about God’s will. Such people may see God’s will as something that will always contradict their plans and interests. The Bible says, we have the mind of Christ (2 Cor. 2:16). You may be surprised that sometimes simple thoughts that come to your mind could be God’s will for you at the moment. The more you renew your mind daily in the word, the faster you recognize God’s will without delay. God does not want his children to struggle to discern his will.
Ask yourself every day: am I doing what I’m called to do?
