What is your Calling?

 Many years ago I heard a guest preacher. He was a missionary and he challenged the Christians to come forward to lay down their lives for missions. At least twenty Christians came forward, but no one became a missionary.

What is your calling? Have you asked God?
If you have a God-given purpose, are you practically involved in fulfilling that calling?

There are some Christians who are fully committed to fulfilling their calling. Without these Christians, God's kingdom on earth would perish. Thank God that will never happen.

But we must never sit in a cosy corner and leave all the responsibility for God's kingdom to a few heroes. Unfortunately, there are too many such passive Christians. That's why we're not seeing revival yet.

Most Christians are not called to lead a church or preach from the pulpit. Unfortunately, we have a misguided tradition where everything revolves around the pastor in the pulpit. Preaching has no value if Christians are not activated as dynamic disciples.

What is your calling? What does your heart burn for?

But perhaps you are overburdened by everyday duties and tasks.

Peter, John and their brothers had to leave their work as fishermen to fulfil their calling, but most of us are not called to do this.

Paul was more than full time in ministry, but he often worked as a tent maker as well.

Luke was not a prominent preacher, but he was well educated. He researched the stories of Jesus and wrote the Gospel of Luke.

You have talents and abilities from God. You have an important role in God's plan, but you can only fulfil your potential if you take time to develop your gifts.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecc 9:10 NIV

Do you feel obliged to always satisfy the wishes of others?

If you strive to always fulfil the expectations of others, you will always be tired and frustrated, and never reach God's goal for your life.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Is 55:6 NIV

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isa 30:21 NIV

It is rare to hear the audible voice of God, but if you are open to the leading of God, He will direct you.

If you always fulfil the wishes of others, you will always turn away from God's purpose for your life, even if you always behave properly.

Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Mt 8:21–22 NIV

Jesus did not mean that we should not attend funerals, but he insists that God's calling must be our first priority.