Make time to know your ‘calling’
If you have grown up in the 
church, there’s a good possibility that you have heard the term “calling” as it pertains to your life. We teach that everyone has some type of calling on his/her life. We may even get in arguments about its definition, which can easily muddy the waters as one seeks an answer for a personal situation.
The confusion may be in our understanding of “calling” as simply a vocation. Each of us will likely hold at least one job (more like eight) in a lifetime. That job or jobs may or may not be part of our calling. Instead, our calling is more of a lifestyle than a vocation.
Author and professor Jerry Sittser says, “The will of God is a way of life.” God’s will or call is to be part of how we live out our life. We are not called to a title or a diploma. Instead, we are called to a life of service, worship and growth with our Lord and Savior — and that is not dictated by our vocation.
Over the years, I’ve realized that there are three stages to living out our faith. First, we must see our calling as a lifestyle. At times that is going to cause stress, conflict and even strife. We are called as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor who was murdered by the Nazis because of his courage to speak out, to “count the cost” of this kind of living. Do we know what it entails? Do we know what we will have to sacrifice? Do we even know how to live the “Jesus way”?
Second, we must be sent out. Whether that means out our front door, to college, to relocate to a new community or country, or even to a new vocation, God wants us to move out of our comfort zones. We can’t be stagnant, self-serving, lazy or fixed in our ways because that is detrimental to those God wants us to encounter as we live out our calling. For some, it will mean getting to know your neighbors on a summer afternoon. For others, it will be taking a mission trip, attending evening classes or quitting your job to stay at home with your children. Others will sense the need to bring clean water to Third World countries or buy a home in an urban center.
The third and most neglected stage is reporting back. Too often we are called, sent and then left, which can lead to burn out. Churches are notorious for doing this. God wants us to be still and know Him. He wants us, just as He wanted His disciples, to report back and keep the conversation going. Too quickly, we rely on ourselves. To report back to God keeps us focused and prepared. We are rested to quiet our lives, to sense anew our calling. Then and only then can God send us out again.
What stage do you find yourself in this summer? Is God’s calling on your life lived out in your daily tasks? Is God sending you out? Or do you need time to sit at the feet of your Lord in silence, find rest for your soul and renew your call? Make time this summer to take inventory of your spiritual life, and see what God is saying to you.
church, there’s a good possibility that you have heard the term “calling” as it pertains to your life. We teach that everyone has some type of calling on his/her life. We may even get in arguments about its definition, which can easily muddy the waters as one seeks an answer for a personal situation.The confusion may be in our understanding of “calling” as simply a vocation. Each of us will likely hold at least one job (more like eight) in a lifetime. That job or jobs may or may not be part of our calling. Instead, our calling is more of a lifestyle than a vocation.
Author and professor Jerry Sittser says, “The will of God is a way of life.” God’s will or call is to be part of how we live out our life. We are not called to a title or a diploma. Instead, we are called to a life of service, worship and growth with our Lord and Savior — and that is not dictated by our vocation.
Over the years, I’ve realized that there are three stages to living out our faith. First, we must see our calling as a lifestyle. At times that is going to cause stress, conflict and even strife. We are called as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor who was murdered by the Nazis because of his courage to speak out, to “count the cost” of this kind of living. Do we know what it entails? Do we know what we will have to sacrifice? Do we even know how to live the “Jesus way”?
Second, we must be sent out. Whether that means out our front door, to college, to relocate to a new community or country, or even to a new vocation, God wants us to move out of our comfort zones. We can’t be stagnant, self-serving, lazy or fixed in our ways because that is detrimental to those God wants us to encounter as we live out our calling. For some, it will mean getting to know your neighbors on a summer afternoon. For others, it will be taking a mission trip, attending evening classes or quitting your job to stay at home with your children. Others will sense the need to bring clean water to Third World countries or buy a home in an urban center.
The third and most neglected stage is reporting back. Too often we are called, sent and then left, which can lead to burn out. Churches are notorious for doing this. God wants us to be still and know Him. He wants us, just as He wanted His disciples, to report back and keep the conversation going. Too quickly, we rely on ourselves. To report back to God keeps us focused and prepared. We are rested to quiet our lives, to sense anew our calling. Then and only then can God send us out again.
What stage do you find yourself in this summer? Is God’s calling on your life lived out in your daily tasks? Is God sending you out? Or do you need time to sit at the feet of your Lord in silence, find rest for your soul and renew your call? Make time this summer to take inventory of your spiritual life, and see what God is saying to you.
By Bob Henry
First appeared in the FWLutheran June 2011
First appeared in the FWLutheran June 2011
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