The “call” to follow Jesus Christ extends beyond the professional “calling” categories. This makes it crucial that we begin our examination of calling with the invitation to follow Jesus.
It calls for rebuilding our connections to God, other people, and the wider world. It includes everything a person does and is. It serves as a reminder that the call to belong to Christ and participate in His plan to save the world comes first, not the call to a particular type of labor.
Contents
- 1 What Does It Mean To Be Called By God?
- 2 What Is A Calling From God?
- 3 What Are The 2 Types Of God’s Calling?
- 4 How Do You Know If You’ve Been Called By God?
- 5 4 Ways To Know If You’ve Been Called By God
- 6 How To Find Your Calling From God?
- 7 Signs That You May Not Be Doing What You Are Called To
- 8 Conclusion
What Does It Mean To Be Called By God?
First, the word “call” in the Old Testament has a straightforward and uncomplicated meaning. It refers to what we would call “daily speech” in English. Humans make calls to God, other people, and animals.
In the Old Testament, calling has another significant connotation. To call is to name, and to name is to bring about or create. Thus, according to the first chapter of Genesis, “God called the light, day; the darkness, night.” This calling entails more than tagging something with a name to help others recognize it. Such daring, original naming is in the works.
God thus named, constituted, and created Israel his people when he called it Israel. Being called involves more than doing and being what we already are; it also involves developing into the person God has called us to be. As a result, the union of being and becoming is “name-calling,” which is different from name-calling.
Third, the New Testament gives calling a new distinguishing significance. It serves as a synonym for salvation. In this sense, the overwhelming majority of calls refer to God drawing people to himself as followers of Christ. Jesus summoned his disciples the same way God called Israel to be his people.
The community of the “called-out ones” is the collective body of Jesus’ disciples (the origin of the word “ecclesia,” the Greek word for church). Salvation is the result of God’s clear calling. God calls people, and those are first selected, then justified, and finally exalted.
The most visible and approachable of these four divine endeavors is calling. It should be no surprise that it refers to redemption itself, and followers of Jesus are commonly referred to as “followers of the Way”[1] rather than “Christians.”
What Is A Calling From God?
God invites people to follow Him, but this invitation is not casual. There is only one suitable reaction to His awe-inspiring presence and His summons, which are as comprehensive and all-encompassing as the caller’s authority.
Our fundamental calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him, and for Him. First and foremost, our calling is to someone—God—rather than to something or somewhere (like parenthood, politics, or teachings, such as the inner city or Outer Mongolia).
Given the sovereign nature of God, our secondary calling is for everyone to conceive, talk, live, and act solely for Him in everything. Therefore, it is appropriate to state that we are called to homemaking, law, or the practice of art history as a secondary calling.
In other words, if we comprehend calling, we must ensure that the primary calling always occurs before the secondary calling, and those first things always come first. The primary calling must, however, inevitably lead to the secondary calling, and vice versa.
What Are The 2 Types Of God’s Calling?
There may be times when the Lord speaks to you through the word, the people in your life, or the way He seems to arrange your life in a manner that leads you to your purpose and instills a sense of urgency in your soul, as many seasoned pastors will attest.
Called To Sanctification
God first reaches out to build a connection with us by providing salvation through Christ because sin has put a barrier between Him and us. Then, after the Lord has made us right with Him, He calls us to sanctification or holiness. This indicates that He distinguishes us for His purposes. Although not flawless, it is a life oriented toward justice and obedience.
Even though this is a divine deed that starts at the time of salvation and lasts until our bodily death, it also necessitates our cooperation. Our development into something more like Christ will be hampered if we decide not to work together with the Lord in this process.
Called To Service
God has decided to use people who have been saved to further His purposes in the world. Each of us has specific responsibilities He wants us to complete; we are responsible for serving Him by carrying out what He has prepared for us. How are you reacting to the many summonses from the Lord?
Remember that we will all appear before Him and give an account of our lives at some point. The loss will come from consistently rejecting His voice, but those who have lived for Him rather than for themselves will receive great rewards.
How Do You Know If You’ve Been Called By God?
Everyone has their own faith and journey because God deals with each of us individually. As a result, how you experience being called to the ministry may be distinct from that of others. But there is always a plan created specifically for the people God speaks to.
Receiving Gifts From The Holy Spirit
You will experience the manifestation of heavenly gifts when you are called to the ministry. The blessings will flow to you naturally and effortlessly. You might not always be aware that you are moving with grace because it comes naturally to you, but others will.
Being More Zealous For God And His Work
If you have a hunger for the things of God—a hunger that ordinary Christians do not have—you will know that you are called. In essence, it involves more for you than just going to church. You are prepared to give up everything to know the Lord God better and serve Him.
Supernaturally Answering The Call
God calls His people in various ways. Some people discover their calling through prophecy or confirmation. You might obtain information orally or in other ways. But occasionally, God will use the Bible to convict you and show you His plans. A passage can catch your eye, and you might sense it is the indication.
You will carry the imprint of God’s calling for the rest of your life. Up until the point when you answer the call, you will always be guilty of it. You cannot be at ease if you ignore it. Conversely, everything will fall into place if you accept it. Fulfilling it will always bring you delight, contentment, and tranquility.
Persistent In One’s Thoughts
Similar to a song or object that keeps playing in your head. Now and then, God’s stubborn voice will rise and get louder. The thought will just come to you, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. Most likely, you continue to ignore the call. However, God is so patient that He will keep providing you with call-in options until you genuinely sense your desire.
Built For The Ministry
You were meant for the ministry before you were even born. Therefore, if you heard the calling, this is your destiny. You will be given the qualities needed to answer that call right away. If you are called to be a pastor, for example, you will naturally be able to lead and care for those around you.
You might also have a gift for using God’s word to uplift people. However, if you are called to be a missionary, you will always be considering how you can win souls for our Lord Jesus Christ. Or, if God prepared you to teach Sunday school, you probably possess the charm that endears you to children.
Called To Serve Others
You must spend your life as His servant if God called you. You are intended to serve Him ultimately with all that you have, including your time, money, and abilities. Since you cannot physically serve God, you must instead serve His church and the people in your immediate vicinity. This is what we refer to as ministry.
When you receive God’s gifts and answer God’s call, you develop into a servant-leader. Your priorities were the needs of the congregation and the individuals. Furthermore, where you will be placed or with whom you will work makes no difference. As you serve the Lord, you must do so with excellence, joy, and passion. You are maintaining calm despite difficulties.
You should be prepared for practical concerns, persecution, and other challenges from following God’s call. Even yet, while you carry on with your ministry job, there is joy and tranquility. One indication that God is with you is peace.
One sign that God is calling you is when you continue to trust Him in the face of hardships and feel that indescribable calm. You will not be moved as long as you continue to do as God commands and put your faith in His protection and provision.
Receives Support From Others
The affirmation of your calling by those around you indicates that you are on God’s agenda. You might receive encouragement from someone who knows you well, such as a good friend, parent, or spiritual guide, to follow what you sense to be God’s call. They probably think you are the right person for that mission since they can tell you are qualified. Just as you were chosen to be one hope when you were called, there is one body and one Spirit.
For instance, you might have mentioned to a close friend that you believe God is calling you to serve him. They can answer by saying that they have always known you to be a capable servant of God. They would undoubtedly promise you their support as you move on as well. The affirmation can be God’s method of boosting your confidence.
4 Ways To Know If You’ve Been Called By God
1. Motivation
Psalm 37:4 states, “Take great delight in the Lord, and He will grant you the wants of your heart.” Often, we interpret this verse to suggest that God will grant our requests. While this is true to some extent, it truly means that God will provide you with your heart’s true wishes.
Therefore, God instilled the desire to share the gospel, encourage others, and provide a hand to those in need. Often, a simple desire to do more for His Kingdom is the inspiration for entering the ministry.
It may have begun as a passing notion, but it keeps expanding. You know you have the proper motivation when nothing can compare to your exhilaration. You have a reasonable basis for exalting and glorifying Him rather than furthering your interests.
2. Communication
Following the initial spark of desire, God starts to talk to you. While some people will hear God’s voice directly, most will experience His presence in more subdued ways. This can take the form of a dream, a prophecy, an impact on your heart, or a growing knowledge. Being called by God entails being selected by God for particular purposes. People begin to fulfill God’s purpose for them when they recognize that call and submit to it.
This expanding understanding serves as a motivation for us to continue looking for new information. When you feel God speaking to you, press in and pay attention because, as Proverbs 25:2 tells us, “It is the honor of God to conceal a matter; to seek out a topic is the glory of kings.”
3. Confirmation
You will not be lost if God calls you to something. He’ll confirm it for you. Others will notice and validate your calling if God has called you. Your parents, family, and pastor—people who follow God and observe you in action—will notice the gifts and confirm that God might be calling you.
4. Isolation
If God is calling you, He is likely purging, pruning, and preparing you. When God purges, He often removes key relationships from your life. God cleanses old mindsets and refines strengths and weaknesses. In the pruning, He cuts away anything that could be detrimental to the mission and prepares you to be a living testimony of His goodness.
This is a moment to celebrate being with your Heavenly Father, and it is the best place to be. You become God’s servant when you agree to His will. If you notice any of these indicators in your life, you will move on to the next stage, preparation. In other words, act after learning. Many people are motivated to quit their jobs and start their own ministries. It is not wise to do that unless God has expressly and unequivocally instructed you to.
Preparation is prudent. It still took the Apostle Paul several years before his mission started, even after he was halted in his tracks by Jesus Christ. Therefore, continue to pray fervently and take the necessary precautions to set yourself up for a fruitful task that will exalt our Heavenly Father.
How To Find Your Calling From God?
If God has placed a calling on your life, He has reserved you for something bigger than yourself. It implies that God created a task for you to complete because that is what He wants. He wants us to bear witness to Christ’s teachings.
1. You have always known that God is present as you can see in different Bible verses. You have been aware of God’s presence and knowledge of His existence for as long as you can remember. Even if you did not attend church or have a Christian background, you might have some inkling that God exists.
Even if you could not identify Him as God, you knew someone was with you and keeping an eye on you. You may recall times when you had the distinct impression that someone was watching for you. Because He was, this is. God never stopped attempting to make Himself known to you. According to the Bible, God makes Himself known to everyone on earth, and every person has an innate awareness of God’s existence.
2. You think there is more to life than what you currently engage in. Perhaps you’re not entirely happy with your life and secretly believe there is more to life than what you’re presently experiencing. This feeling may go unnoticed by you, but it has always existed. Even if your life is going well and you’re content, you could still have the nagging desire for something more. This is your purpose or calling from God.
3. You give people your best. Something inside you desires to take action to lessen their pain or provide them with comfort when you see or hear about these people. Most people believe they will miss out if they devote their lives to helping others. However, that is untrue! According to Jesus, you find it when you lose your life for the sake of others.
Signs That You May Not Be Doing What You Are Called To
We are aware of the gifts God has given each of us, as was already indicated, but we must also recognize that we are not called for self-gratification or prosperity. God and His kingdom are calling us. For the benefit of others, Jesus called us. “I implore you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received,” Paul writes, motivating everybody (Ephesians 4:1).
Most of us conflate our calling with our employment or career. Most of us have a job and a calling that may be focused on the community, our church, or our family. However, they may be the same for others. Therefore, remember that it might be different from your employment when thinking about discovering your actual calling.
More than we can imagine, God loves us. In accordance with His design for our life, He leads and takes care of us. We can make all the plans we want when deciding where to live, what job to pursue or leave, or even what church to attend, but God determines our steps and defines our calling as He does.
Conclusion
There is a reasonable probability that your current difficulties are God’s method of preparing you for even more amazing things, even though you may not realize it now. Your present circumstances may be challenging, but if you hang in there and continue to trust Him, you will undoubtedly experience better days in the future.
Begin to get to know Him. Understanding Him is the key to achieving everything you could ever want. You will start to understand why you were made if you surrender your eternal life to God. All the details of your life will begin to make sense as the Lord reveals your destiny. Your life is just getting started, and things only get better.
