Few days ago, I was just reflecting on the call of God. It is widespread for churches to teach their members to find out their calling in life. The "call of God" has been emphasized so significantly that it left many believers confused as they continually seek to discover what they should do in life.
Let me submit to us that the so-called "call of God" is one of the most disastrous teachings. When believers are so focused on finding out what they should specifically do in life, they neglect LIFE itself.
Even choosing a spouse becomes, "I better find one that will help me to fulfill my call in life. Else she may hinder my call. She may slow me down." That, in itself, is self-focused, self-centred, 'all about me' attitude. Besides, when did the Bible ever say that the spouse is here to help you fulfill your 'call'?
When believers focus on their call, they begin to wonder which 'call' is more significant; which 'call' is better; which 'call' receives more applause from men. That is a distortion from the truth.
Disclaimer: God does indeed have assignments for us in this life. And everyone has a different role to play in the kingdom. But the assignment is not the most important thing. If it were, Jesus and apostle Paul would have talked a fair bit on that.
The call of God, really, is not about assignments. It is not about doing. It is about BEING. The CALL OF GOD is about walking in the fullness of our identity as sons and daughters.
There are too many verses that point to what the call of God really means. These are just a few.
John 20:21 - So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
- Jesus was sent to reveal the Father. We are sent to reveal Jesus. The call of God is to represent Christ in love (which includes power).
Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall BE witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (emphasis added)
- The call of God is to BE His witnesses. In short, represent Christ as sons and daughters.
John 15:5,8 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing... By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
- We are not trying to be the branches. We already are. We are sons and daughters. We are called to bear fruit in Christ. The fruit we are to bear is LOVE.
John 13:35 - By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Ephesians 4:1 - I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.
- Ephesians 1-3 talks about the calling, which is IDENTITY.
Romans 11:28-29 - Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
- The calling of God is irrevocable. It is referring to the election. In context, it is about the Jews. It is about their call as God's sons! Back to identity :)
1 Corinthians 1:23-24 - but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
- Those who are called are IN Christ. Identity again!
1 Corinthians 11:1 - Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
- Paul loved to tell others to become like Christ. Because that's our calling.
Phil 3:14 - I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
- The upward call of God is to lay hold of what Christ has paid for us to walk in (Phil 3:12). That's identity.
1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
- We are called because we have inherited eternal life. Eternal life is not going to heaven. It is knowing and manifesting the fullness of heaven.
The call of God is probably the clearest in Romans 8.
Romans 8:29-30 - For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (emphasis added)
The call of God is for us to be CONFORMED to the image of Christ. If we focus purely on this, we will not be concerned with discovering our assignments. We will not be perplexed.
Because whichever job you do presently, it's about becoming like Christ. Whichever spouse you choose, it's about becoming like Christ. Whether you know assignment or not, it's about becoming like Christ. Whether you serve in church ministry or not, it's about becoming like Christ. Whether you work in full-time church ministry or marketplace or a stayed-home mum, it's always about the latter and not the former. Because you can do the former and miss out becoming like Christ. That is NOT walking worthy of the call of God (Eph 4:1) in our lives.
This is the most important and true call of God in our lives. To walk in the fullness of our IDENTITY. #identity
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