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"...live a life worthy of the calling you have received." — Ephesians 4:1
Pioneer Woman recently posted about a friend of hers who went to India with Compassion International. It wasn't necessarily the post itself or even Compassion International that struck a chord, just the idea of doing something worthwhile to make the world a better place.
The Bible verse above was on the Compassion International website. Of course, I have read the verse before. Yet, today, as every other time I have read this verse, I wondered what if you don't know what your calling is?
At one point in my life, I was sure my calling was to serve my country in the AF. Now, when that is no longer available to me, I am left with wondering, again, what my calling is...
How can you live a life worthy of your calling, if you have no idea what that calling is?
Our calling may change based on our circumstances, and the circumstances themselves can often drive our calling. I believe a calling may be for as few as seconds or last years.
ReplyDeleteWhile in the AF, our calling may have applied to the position we were in or the base we were assigned to. And as we leave those attributes behind, we take on new callings. Your calling now may be to be a friend, a wife, a blogger, a daughter, sister, or niece.
Ultimately, we have a life-long calling that underscores all that we do. The calling Paul was referring to is a spiritual one that has to do with how we should live as followers of Christ. In that calling, you can understand that there are things we are not called to do. If I had to find a verse to sum up our calling, I'd refer you to Micah 6:8, a personal favorite. If we lived this way, no other rule, law, or directive of the Bible would matter because this would encompass them all.
In short, I think Paul is saying that we are sons and daughters of the Living God--act like it.
The world may have a different view on this but then it's not the world's saying is it?
Thanks, as usual, for your thoughts. I didn't look at it as a "calling" to live as a daughter of Christ. Whether or not I know what my "other callings" may be, living up to what God expects of me should be work enough...and in itself would probably lead me to whatever else I should do...
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Micah 6:8 "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
About the best thing you can do is to continually pray and ask for God's guidance.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, though. My brother knew his calling in life was to draw comics from an early age, and he is very happy doing that. I thought my calling was to be a pilot, but that was before I got airsick in small planes. My calling these days? Be the bast Dad I can is about all I can surmise.
Which brings me full-circle: I have to continually pray and ask for God's guidance in my life. I hope and I pray for Him to show me what He would have me do next.
Bigboid - good point. I'm sure if I spent my time praying instead of worrying about what my calling is, I would have a better chance of figuring it out. And yes, I know worrying changes nothing, unfortunately, I'm an expert worrier...
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