Sunday, October 7, 2012

Your Calling Begins With One Step

But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, not did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. -- Galatians 1:15-17

Whenever we feel called to do something, we seem to need a committee to help us decide if we should do it or not. We’ve got to weigh the pros and cons. We’ve got to analyze it to death.

Sometimes caution is good. Other times caution is just an excuse to keep from stepping out in faith and following God where He would have you go.

Most Christians will tell you that they want to do God’s will but they simply don’t know what it is. Maybe that’s so. It’s difficult at times to drown out our own wishes and the comments from those around us to really hear what God has to say. But we can do it by spending time in His Word, in prayer, and in solitude.

And let me make something clear: You’ll never hear God if you don’t learn to be quiet. While God sometimes comes in flashes of light, most often His voice is the whisper we hear down deep in our souls.

Another way to determine God’s will is to follow your own passions. What excites you? What gets you all riled up at injustice? What breaks your heart? Those emotions are some wonderful indicators of how God made you.

That said, don’t expect your calling to be easy or always fun. Expect hardships. Expect ridicule. Expect to work harder than you ever have. And expect a satisfaction like you’ve never known before.

Also ask yourself a key question: Why do I feel compelled to do this thing? Is it something you simply have to do, regardless of the cost or whether anyone ever notices? Or is it something that will bring you glory, maybe a pay raise and a lifestyle change? Because if it’s a calling from God, you won’t care about anything else. If it’s external stuff, well, that never comes from God and will never satisfy your soul.

It is okay to sometimes ask for advice, just be really careful. Everyone has an agenda, whether they realize it or acknowledge it or not. It can’t be about them and what they want. Your calling is uniquely your own

Also, the person(s) giving advice shouldn’t tell you what to do but should lead you to discover your own motivations and desires and how those line up with God’s will. Remember: A calling from God is never about you.

Paul didn’t wait for permission to begin his ministry. He didn’t hesitate. He simply took first one step and then another in faith. So should you.