A Simple word...God has called us to live out the life of Jesus Christ wherever He has placed us. The Call of God is central to our Christian identity and can only be lived when we are paying attention to the voice of God and faithfully responding in obedience. Sometimes THE CALL is all we have. I have had the privilege and honor to preach at two ordination services over the past two weeks here in Seattle (Colin Robeson at 1st Bellevue Presbyterian Church this Sunday and Brian Moss at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church the following Sunday). Each have heard the call of Christ to follow Him and be pastors in the church. I am humbled to be part of that work of discerning and hearing the voice and call of God on their lives. But it is not just pastors or missionaries who are called but every Christian is "called" by God to serve God and others in the Spirit of Christ, no matter where God has placed His People. The first call for all of us is to receive the invitation of Jesus to "follow me" and the second call is to discover where we are being called to live that out.
I just finished Scott McKnight's (I believe one of the finest Christian thinkers in the USA today) great book ONE.LIFE where he recounts a word he heard John Stott speak several years ago (1975). Oddly enough, Dr Stott spoke the same words to me nearly 10 years later when I asked him "How can I know the will of God for my life and ministry?" to which he responded "Go where your gifts will be exploited the most." That thought has never left me. And so I leave it with you.
Vocation is to live life in response to the voice/call of God. Occupation is just that...to occupy space and time but nothing more. Vocation is to live where your gifts will be exploited most. Occupation is to live where you work and receive a paycheck. God wants all of us to live life so much more deeply, responively and responsibly before Christ and others.
Don't settle for living life occupationally. Seek to live life vocationally. In that there is great joy and satisfaction. In that one can hear on a daily basis that which we will hear face to face when we stand before Christ "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
(for further reading Os Guinness' THE CALL)
"'Go where your gifts will be exploited the most.' That thought has never left me. And so I leave it with you."
Bryon - I love this counsel, and take it to heart, reaffirming where God is leading me in my own life. I have never heard/read such succinct advice regarding knowing God's will for one's life.
Thank you for sharing this.
Posted by: Lew Curtiss | February 15, 2012 at 04:38 PM