You’re Called by God

I remember, as I was in my early 20’s, I heard other Christians talking about the call of God. They were saying that, rather than this being a general type of call for every Christian, God gave a specific call for each individual believer. I didn’t really understand what they were talking about. This was a new concept for me. So I started praying about it for the next few months. I asked God if this was so. Did He have a calling for me, and, if so, what was it? It was during this time that I had the accident. I fell off a cliff and was badly injured. In the month after the accident I continued asking God about my calling. I had survived the accident and was deeply searching for what my future would hold.

Then one night on a beach, at a small place called Catherine Hill Bay in Australia, I had an encounter with God that changed my life. The whole principle of God having a specific calling for my life crystallised as the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me what my calling was. I understood that a calling isn’t usually a gifting. It’s more to do with the very essence of who God’s made me to be, and is connected to the purpose He has for my life on earth. For me He gave a passage from the book of Isaiah. A part of my calling was to be a light to the Gentiles, and even to Israel, that I would bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. I was called to bring His light. He also gave me some promises for my future. As the Holy Spirit pierced His Word into my spirit, I was changed.

In the New Testament Peter is a good example of being called by God. His first calling comes in Matthew 4 where he’s called to be a follower of Jesus and to be a fisher of men. But I think Jesus extends Peter’s calling in today’s scripture from Matthew 16. Here Peter’s called to be the ‘rock’ on which the Church will be built. This becomes Peter’s identity and his life purpose. This is his individual calling. God gave him the gifts he needed to fulfil this calling. His calling was to be a rock, and, notice too, there are promises attached to this calling.

God does have a specific calling for you and your life. You’re called by God. Have you asked Him what His calling for your life is? If not, I encourage you to ask today. If you’re like I was, and you still don’t understand, keep asking Him until He tells you. Then, when He tells you, it will all make sense. As that moment comes for you, accept His calling and embrace it. As the years go by you’ll find it will become who you are. But don’t try to fulfil God’s calling on your life in your own strength, or put your agenda upon God. Humbly submit to God and allow Him to bring the calling into fulfilment in your life, in His way and His time.

For those of you who know what your calling is, reaffirm it today and commit yourself afresh to being all that God created you and called you to be. For me, I’m amazed at how God has unfolded His plans in my life, in accordance with the calling He gave me so many years ago. Some of it has involved great struggle and sacrifice, but some of it’s been so wonderful. Writing Seeds of the Kingdom each month has definitely been a part of God fulfilling my calling, as I share His light, and the lessons He’s taught me, with people from so many nations of the world. There are still so many things yet to be fulfilled in my calling. So I stand in faith for my future and commit afresh to be all He’s called me to be. How about you?

Prayer: Dear Father God, thank You that You have a specific calling for my life. Please make that calling really clear to me today, either for the first time, or to reaffirm in my heart what You’ve already shown me. I want to make my life count for Your Kingdom. I stand in faith for my future. Help me to be all that You’ve called me to be, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.