Central Truth

God has supernaturally entrusted each one of us with a calling.  It isn’t optional, it’s a divine call that's uniquely shaped and molded to fit our souls. We are fully equipped with spiritual gifts to do this like no one else. We only need to be willing to serve.

Reflections

One of the more memorable quotes in political history occurred in 1992 when Admiral James Stockdale uttered his famous line, “Who am I? And why am I here?” during a televised vice-presidential debate. This provided fodder for comedians for years, but isn’t it really what all of us ask ourselves? Don’t we all deeply desire to know why we even exist? I know I do.

This longing to find life’s purpose is like a craving that we cannot seem to pin down and satisfy. It’s so easy to get tangled up in the search that we never stop to realize our call isn’t something we find, but is something that finds us. God didn’t ask our permission, He chose us. When we awake to the call upon our life, it will most often come in a supernatural way that we simply cannot explain. It may be sudden or gradual, but it is always supernatural. This means it is not a conclusion nor decision, but a compulsion.

Paul says, “Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel,” referring to the calling upon his life, preaching. He has no other choice but to fulfill what he was called to do, no matter what his circumstances are. He understands this is not a condition of his salvation, because salvation is the sovereign work of God alone, but rather all about becoming a servant. Servants follow the path set before them, they are compelled, bound, to do what they are told to do.

In essence he is saying that if we set our foot in any other direction, other than our calling, we will encounter anguish and affliction. We need only to be willing to be obedient to however God chooses to use us. God uses each one of us differently to live out the Gospel. Each calling is unique. It’s not about my dream for my life, it’s about God’s dream for my life. And that is all I want in this world. Grip your calling with both hands and hang on for dear life. It is uniquely yours. Live it.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever thought of your calling as supernatural?
2. Have you already identified the call upon your life? If so, do you feel compelled to follow it above all else?
3. If you haven’t yet identified your call, are you willing to agree with God to follow Him wherever He wants to take you?
4. Your calling is unique as a snowflake and cannot be carried out in the same way by anyone else. Spend some time reflecting on the individuality of your gifts and how they equip you to live out the call God has placed upon you.