Dear Reader,
Have you been called to teach children? To cater to the less privileged? To work with teenagers? To raise awareness for a cause? To go to the mission field? WHAT IS YOUR CALLING?
“Therefore, my
brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For
if you do these things you will never stumble,…” (2 Peter 2:10)
“…I urge you to live
a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)
Both verses talk
about my calling.
Who has called me?
To what life have I been
called to?
Why must I be sure
of my calling?
All these are questions
that arose in my heart after reading both verses.
Who has called me? JESUS has called me. He has called me because He
has a purpose and plan for my life that I can only fulfill when I have answered
His call. He cannot force His plans and purposes for me, on me.
To what life have I been called? In Ephesians 4:2, there are listed some
characteristics that I must possess which are proof of the life I have been
called to. Some of them are humility, gentleness, patience and bearing with
others in love. These are the characteristics of the life that God has called
me to. And these are not characters that just anyone can possess. Only through
the help of the Holy Spirit can I exhibit such qualities. This also means that the
calling I have received is not a trivial one. It demands a change from my
nature of sin, to a new life of Jesus that is uncommon in this world of sin and
perversion. My life must match my calling. If I claim to be called of God, then
my lifestyle must prove that indeed, I am of God. What man claims to be a
soldier yet is timid, fearful and lazy?
Why must I be sure of my calling? I must be sure of my calling so that I will remain
strong and steadfast. I must do all I can to confirm my calling and election as
the Bible says. For me, this means that I must make every effort to know for a
fact what God wants me to do with my life, what purpose He has for me, what ministries
He has called me to and how exactly He wants to use my life for His glory. This
means that I must desire a sense of understanding so I know what God
wants/demands of me. When I know what God’s will and purpose for me is, I will
not be confused. Neither will I travel the wrong path for my life which will be
filled with unnecessary obstacles (I do not mean there will be no
obstacles) because I am on the wrong path and have no understanding on how to
navigate it. This is where I will stumble, and woefully.
When I am walking in
purpose and understanding, I will be able to navigate my path of travel very
accurately. Therefore, I must desire to really know my calling and when I do, I
must strive to live a life worthy of that calling. I must be careful not to try
and fit myself into someone else’s calling. God has a special plan and purpose
for me that I will fit perfectly into like a puzzle piece. All I need to do is
to ask Him to reveal my purpose to me and help me live it.
Dear Lord,
Help me to live a
life of purpose. Grant me understanding of the calling You have given me. I cast
aside every distraction, pride, selfishness and other things that would keep me
from entering into all that you have for me. Help me to forgo the past and
begin to live for You from this moment. Show me if what I am doing now is what I
am supposed to be doing. If it is not, then please realign my life to Your will
and purpose. Please show me clearly what gifts and talents You have placed in
me and how I can use them for You. May my life count for eternity.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
In Christ,
Shanpepe
