Colossians 3:17 “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
John Ortberg wrote: “Western society does not talk much about calling any more. It is more likely to think in terms of career. Yet, for many people a career becomes the altar on which they sacrifice their lives. A calling, which is something I do for God, is replaced by a career, which threatens to become my god. A career is something I choose for myself; a calling is something I receive. A career is something I do for myself; a calling is something I do for God. A career promises status, money or power; a calling generally promises difficulty and even some suffering – and the opportunity to be used by God. A career is about upward mobility; a calling generally leads to downward mobility.”
I hope you have a sense of calling. God calls his people to work in every area of society, be it in the realms of education, business, media, the arts or elsewhere. It doesn’t have to be the few who feel called to their field. The value of feeling called rather than simply pursuing a career is that you may retire from your job eventually, but not from your calling. Or sometimes you might go through a period of unemployment, but no-one ever becomes uncalled.
A woman who had attended a mission wrote afterwards to the missioner saying: “Dear Sir, I have come to know Jesus Christ during the mission. I feel he is calling me to preach the gospel. The trouble is, I have 12 children. What shall I do?” The missioner wrote back: “Dear Madam, I’m delighted to hear that God has called you to preach the gospel. I’m even more delighted that he’s provided you with a congregation!”
Have you heard God’s call? Have you sought it? Do you want it?
Lord, I choose to pursue your call rather than just my career. Amen!
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