New Quote of the Moment:

The real calling of God is not to a certain place or career, but to everyday obedience.

BROTHER ANDREW, God’s Call

My God knows what I’ve written to some and spoken to others about concerning that ever-so-spiritual word: calling. Among any evangelical circle, this is a hot word. Some think they’re called to go here, and they can use that phrase to get themselves wherever they want to go. Others are convinced that they’re certainly not called to do something in particular, and they’ll make endless number of excuses to avoid it or anything, even good things, of which they’re afraid or doubtful. They wield their supposed calling as a banner or a shield, depending on the situation of greatest appeal.
But God’s call to one man is the same to all men. We Christians all read the same Scriptures, and have received the same words. The calling, like Brother Andrew stated, is to be members of the kingdom of God and followers of Jesus. Everything we do and everything we are as Christians is contingent upon the will of God. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 NASB). When God called me He revealed to me who He was through His Son and His Spirit, and He revealed who I am in Him. If I’ve truly understood who He is, I know that there is no boundary, no limit, no obstacle over which He does not have victory; Jesus proclaimed, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The world! Can He who has overcome the world not overcome my limitations and have me do things I never dreamed that I’d be called to do. Though I would introduce myself as “Philip the evangelist,” fully ready to walk in the specific gifts God has given me, using the specific experience God has moved me through my entire life, I must always acknowledge that I have the very same calling on my life as every other member of the church—obedience—and I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to fulfill that calling, even things that I cannot do and things that I’m afraid to do.
What command must we obey? I’ve heard a saying recently that 95% of the will of God is already written down, while the other 5% is in our daily walk. I’m not even sure that it’s only 95%. We need to read the Scriptures to know the words of God, to do the commands of God. The apostles profoundly taught that we must be “doers of the word, and not merely hearers” (James 1:22). And how can we do something new if we have not first received instruction of it somehow? How can we obey if we do not know and understand the commands? If we’re going to prophetically do the word of God and walk, as we say, as “Spirit-led” believers, then we must know the Scriptures. God’s call for me, for all, is in the Scriptures. Without the Bible we are lost and hopeless. If I end up in India, I know it’s not because I’m “called to India,” but instead because I’m called into service of my Lord wherever He wants me, however He has prepared it, and I’m willing to go where He wills.
It’s time to stop worrying and fussing about the things for which I think I may possibly use my talents effectively, calling my career goals and future plans a “calling.” It’s time to read my the Word and know His will for my life, and to do what He has commanded and whatever I hear the Spirit speaking through the Scriptures. Amen.