"I Call You"
Why are we doing what we are doing? Why are we doing the jobs, the church ministries we are doing? Why are you a teacher, a logger, a rancher, a Sunday school teacher, a board member, an elder, a pastor? Is it because we are the most qualified person available; or perhaps the only qualified person? Are we doing it because we are gifted, talented, have the skills for it, or we are so darn good at it? Because we have the training, certificate, diploma, license, or degree for it? Are we doing it because it was the only job available and now I am stuck in this job? Are we doing it because no one else was available or willing to do it?
Or, are we doing what we are doing because God called us to do it? This is an important question. How we answer will lead us to one of two very different paths, two different ways of how we live and how we work. We will look at these two different paths as we talk about the grace of calling.
So far we have learned that in his amazing grace and unfailing love God says, “I see you. I know you. I do not condemn you. Sin no more. I cover you. I forgive you. I welcome you.” God gave us, who deserve nothing, everything. This morning, God says to us, “I call you.” God did not just save us from eternal death and judgment. He saved us for kingdom living and kingdom work in this world. He says, “I created you for a purpose. I saved you for a purpose. I call you.” Let’s look at a few Scriptures.
Genesis 1:26–28 — Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 2:15 — The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. — We are created for a purpose. We are called to take care of God’s creation for Him and on his behalf.
1 Chronicles 29:11–12 — Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. // [In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all (ESV)] // [Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. (NLT)] — We are who we are, have what we have, and do what we do because God gave it, and called us to it.
Ephesians 2:8–10 — For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. — Just think about this. Not only are we God’s creation, handiwork, but long before we were born, God already planned the good works that we will do. We are saved for a purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:26–31 — Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Amazing! God calls us, weak jars of clays, sinners, unworthy, unfaithful people to be his partners in his kingdom work. We do what we do, whatever job or ministry it is, whether it is short-term or long-term, we do what we do because God called us to do it. Have you thought about this? This what you are doing is what God called you, gave you, appointed you to do.
Therefore, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received — Ephesians 4:1. Live a life worthy of your calling. The way we live, the life of excellence we try to live, the happiness we pursue, our performance, the way we do our work, all these flows from our calling. We do what we do because God called us to do it, not because we are qualified, trained, or skilled. This has important implications for how we do our work and live our life.
1. I Called You To Be a Person in Process
“I called you to be a person in process, not to perform. You are not perfect. You are being perfected.” When we do what we do because we think we are qualified, we focus on performance. And when we focus on performance, we hide our mistakes. We ignore or deny our weaknesses. We put on masks and shields of defense to show that we know what we are doing. We perform. We sing the song, do the dance, and play the part that the world and others expect of us. We have an inflated self-assessment. We think higher of ourselves than we should, and pride takes over.
But when we live out of our calling, we chose to be a person in process. We know that we are in the process of becoming like Christ. We know that we are not perfect, that we don’t have it all together. Therefore, we admit our mistakes. We are honest about our weaknesses. We acknowledge, evaluate, and understand them. We talk about them with friends and mentors. We practice humble, honest self-assessment through the counsel of the Holy Spirit and others. We ask for help and input. We live and work in the assurance that God’s grace is sufficient for us, and that his power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Therefore we will boast all the more gladly about our weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on us. That is why, for Christ’s sake, we delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when we are weak, then we are strong (2 Cor 12:9-10).
Are we striving to perform, or are we willing to be in process? As a church, do we expect of people to be already processed, to have arrived, and to perform? Or are we okay with us all being in process, growing, and the messiness that goes with that?
2. I Called You To Significance
“I called you to pursue kingdom significance, not worldly success.” God calls us to pursue first his kingdom, to put his kingdom, his purpose, his glory first and foremost in our lives. In living our lives and doing what we do, are we pursuing success or significance?
When we pursue success, we will always prioritize the things that make us look successful, the public things, the things that bring us the applause, praise, recognition, prizes, and awards. We will prioritize the things that lead to personal advancement and growing our own kingdoms. When we are caught up in success, we hope to be served. Others will do things for us.
However, when we live out of our calling and pursue significance, we put first the things God has asked us to do, whether or not they are glamorous, bring fame, or are known by others. We prioritize what leads to advancing God’s kingdom and furthering God’s agenda/purpose. We hope to serve, to follow the example of Christ, and serve others. We are truly successful when we live out God’s calling faithfully when his kingdom is advanced, and His Name is glorified. And when we are successful, we boast in the Lord, not in ourselves. We give Him all the glory.
How do we measure success in our work, ministry, lives, in our church? What are we pursuing in our lives, work, ministry, and church? God’s kingdom or our own little kingdoms?
3. I Called You To Be Authentic, To Live Unashamed
“I called you to be authentic and live unashamed, not to be a celebrity and put up an appearance, a show.” Do we value appearance or authenticity?
When we do what we do because we are qualified, when we choose performance and pursue success, we value appearance over authenticity. Appearance is concerned about “How do I look? How do I come across?” Guilt and shame create fear, and fear leads to image management. We don’t want people to know the real, the authentic me, because we are afraid that if you knew the real me, you will reject me. So we posture, pose, and pretend. We manage our image so that you will like me. The fear of the real me being discovered, exposed, and rejected, keeps us stuck in that performance-driven, success-driven, appearance driven way of living, working, and leading.
However, when we live out of our calling, and Christ is in us, we can be authentic. There is no need to perform or put up appearances. Our success will look very different than the world’s success. We may not become celebrities or achieve fame, but we will receive kingdom rewards that have eternal significance. We can be authentic. We can be honest and truthful about who we are. Why?
4. All That Matters Is Christ in Me!
Because all that matters is Christ in me. Remember our identity. Who are we? We are Christ-in-Me. Therefore, we are free to be the real me, and we are free to pursue God’s calling on our lives. We are new people in Christ, and Christ is in us. We can live unashamed because we know that we are a work in progress. We are in the process. We are becoming like Christ. All that matters is Christ in me, His kingdom, His calling on my life, His glory.
So, why are we doing what we are doing? Let’s look at Exodus 31:1–6 — Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you …”
God chooses. He calls. His calling qualifies us to do what we do. Then He equips us. He may give us special skills, talents, and gifts. He may send us for training, studies, or an apprenticeship in order to prepare us for our calling. But ultimately, we do what we do because one day at some point in our lives God met us and said, “I want to use you in this way, in this career, this job, or this ministry.” And we said, “Yes, Lord, I am willing. Here I am. Send me. Use me.” God’s calling qualifies us to do what He calls us to do. Not my experience, training, skills, talents, gifts. These things equip me, enable me to do what God called me to do.
Are you doing what you are doing because God called you to do it? Or are there other reasons? Make sure that you are living in and living out the grace of calling. And when we are doing what we are doing because God called us, when we are doing it for the Lord, in His Name, and for His glory, what are the implications for how we are doing what we are doing? What needs to change? How do we need to do it differently? How should my attitude toward my work and people change, toward my clients, customers, even my animals?
In Christ, we are free to be real and to pursue His call on our lives. And in doing so, we live out the life worthy of the calling we have received. In doing so we are God’s loving presence to one another. We are God’s channels of grace to one another and to the world. The world needs you to do what you do God called you to do. That’s how we proclaim the gospel and make God known to the world. God needs you to do what He called you to do. That’s how we proclaim and make visible His kingdom in the world. Where and when you live out your calling in love and grace, do it in the Name of the Lord, there God’s kingdom is coming. This is who we are in Jesus Christ.