Your Calling or Mission

 

I believe if we are born-again into the kingdom of God, we are called into His service.  In other words, God has given each one of us a gift and we are being prepared for service of some kind.  No matter how unworthy we may think we are, if God has chosen us He wants to use us in some way to further His kingdom.  We may not want to step out and fulfill our calling, or mission, because of fear, our inferiority, doubt or maybe we don’t feel qualified, but God uses these kinds of people every day.  God doesn’t always call the equipped but He always equips the ones that He calls.  Some people are called to places they never dreamed of going and some are called to places they would never want to be.  

I was listening to a man last night that was content to be a helper in a church ministry, but after a time, with very little notice, the pastor left because of some problems and he handed this man the keys of the church, leaving this man to take his position as pastor or close the church.  This man had no idea that was going to happen, and at the time, he didn’t want to be the pastor but he was willing, and at this present time, he has a large, thriving church.  This reminds me of what God said to Samuel when he went to anoint David as king instead of King Saul in 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”  

I am an example of this also, I have been involved in many ministries through the years that I would never have believed I would have been in and I am sure there have been multitudes of other people that felt the same way.  My mom, dad, sisters and brothers, if they knew how the Lord has used me over the years, would have never believed it.  It is hard for me to believe how He would use a person like me.  If God would use a person like me, with my background, He can use a person like you, if you are willing.  Now I am so thankful, but at one time I would have never believed it either.

While typing this Moses comes to mind, he was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, ends up killing an Egyptian and running for his life, then God calls him to go back to Egypt to tell the Pharaoh to let God’s people go.  Read some of Moses response in Exodus 4:10-17, “Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’

So the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.’

But he said, ‘O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.’

So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: ‘Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.’”

Moses faced the greatest challenge in his life, God provided Aaron to help him, plus the rod was his assurance of God’s presence and power.  In this situation, God didn’t call the equipped but He did equip the called.

Here is another example; think about Jonah, he runs from God, forsaking his mission to go to Nineveh, but he had another reason he didn’t want to go to the people of Nineveh, because He didn’t want God to forgive them, he wanted God to destroy them.  After his encounter with a big fish, he went, but not because he wanted to.  After all was said and done, God, because of His mercy, love and grace, forgave the people of Nineveh.  Jonah said this in Jonah 4:1-3, “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!’”

Jonah felt so bad that God spared this nation that he wanted to die, imagine that.  In Jonah’s day, as well as in Paul’s day, the Jews didn’t want to share God’s message with the Gentile nations, Jonah didn’t want them to hear the Good News.  

There are many reasons why people may not fulfill their calling, or mission.  Are you fulfilling yours, and if not, why not?  Something to think about!  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!