Purpose, Gifts, and CallingSample

 Purpose and Calling

Everyone has a calling, but for different purposes. Whenever we hear the word 'Calling,' we often associate it to a Spiritual vocation, maybe a pastor or an evangelist. God loves varieties. He called David to be a King, not a Prophet, while He called Esther as a Queen to stand up for the Jews and defend their cause. Samson, Peter, and Nehemiah were all called by God, but with different responsibilities. 

Your gifts, passion, strengths, and anointing are all connected to your calling, and to be effective in the area God has called you to function, you need to work within the confines of the gifts he has given you. 

Interestingly, God's gifts on you are permanent. In Romans 11:29 NIV, "For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn." Gifts only become redundant when not put to work. 

How can I know my call?  There are only a few occasions in the Bible where God directly spoke to people about their calling; Moses and the burning bush. Saul on his way to Damascus, and a few others. 

Sometimes, a person's call is born out of a burning passion for change, and once they take a step towards it, God will back them up. Nehemiah was passionate about rebuilding Jerusalem's wall, God didn't speak to him directly, and once he makes up his mind, God backs him up. 

Also, callings are sometimes born out of 'positional responsibility' or expectations after assuming an office. When Esther became the Queen, she took the risk and responsibility to stand up for the Jews, and by so doing, God backed her up.

If God has not spoken to you directly about your calling, don't passively wait for him, your gifts, personalities, talents, strengths, and passion are always indicators of what He has called you to do. The danger of heeding your call too late in life is you limit the length of your relevance to the people, environment, or the generation God has sent you to. There is a cost to starting late in life, heed your call to live the life God intended for you.

Prayer: Dear God, help me to recognize my gifts, and please strengthen me to embrace my call. Give me the spirit of boldness and courage to stand up for the cause you've destined me to fulfill. In Jesus' name. Amen.