Called

Have you ever heard someone say they were called to be in ministry? I have. I remember going to a youth camp in 7th grade. It was one of those emotional deals, where the speaker brings down fire and brimstone. I remember his sermon. He spoke on doing something for God. And how sometime God can push you into doing something, but that you should jump in before He pushes you. I remember feeling scared. I didn’t want God to push me. God probably is jacked like a bodybuilder and what if He pushes too hard? I remember telling my youth group at the end of the service that I felt like God was calling me into ministry and I wanted to surrender my life to His plans. I bet I was probably crying while saying this. Hey, those emotional sermons can get to ya.

Now here I am. I’m 27 and selling advertising for a living. I am not in ministry. I am studying to be a counselor, but that’s not ministry. So what happened? Why didn’t I go to a seminary college or major in preaching? I don’t know. I think my views have changed a lot over the years about what God’s calling actually means.

I guess I don’t believe that there are those called to go into ministry and then the rest of us. I think we are all ‘called’ by God to do something in our lives. As since we are all called, then one calling is not more special in His eyes than another one. The thing is, some of us know what we are called to do, some of us think we know, and some of us have no idea.

I think the important thing is to be open for whatever God has in store for your life. Sometimes He can lead us places where we don’t want to go, but we will be better off if we follow. We are called to love God and to love others no matter where He leads us. Sometimes we like to point out the verse where God says that He knows the plans He has for us. I think it’s true; He does have plans for us. It just that most of the time most of us are clueless as to what they are.

The key here is to be willing to go and do and say whatever God wants from you. It’s much like Isaiah, when he over heard God asking who should He send; Isaiah volunteered. He was eager to do whatever God wanted Him to do. I think if our desire is to love God and to serve Him, then He will guide us to where He best can use us. He wants the talents He placed in us to shine. It may be ministry. But then again it may be business, or education, or music, or government. God calls us all, but in different ways.

Walk in love,
matt