We use the word, calling, a lot in the Christian community. Innately, this word has no right or wrong connotation. However, many times we use this word as an excuse not to fulfill Christ’s command to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matt. 28)
Let me explain…
We read Jesus’ command to, “go and make disciples of all nations,” and reduce it to a “calling” that only a few, pious missionaries receive. So people use this as an excuse not to go, not to fulfill Christ’s command, and end up doing largely, nothing. We all have different callings and God’s plans are different for each of our lives. Still, each of us needs to follow Christ in His command to make disciples of all nations, in our local communities, in this nation, and in the world. We all have the same Spirit, all have the same plan, just different giftings, locations, and ways of fulfilling it.
With that said, I think I have fallen short of this in the opposite way. Because I’m going to Africa soon, I have used this “calling” to excuse myself from bringing Christ’s glory to Gainesville, GA.
It’s like I say, “well, God, I’ll be in Africa soon and you have called me to be a missionary there. So I need to focus on that.” Then I hear Him say, “yes, but look around you. You are in Gainesville now until you leave and there are people all around you who need my hope…”
Today I want to live in the here and now, and ask the Lord for people to encourage and lead toward Himself. I will look toward the future, yes, but I will not ignore the community around me. I encourage you to do the same. Look around you and ask the Lord for people to speak life into. But be careful not to ignore the billions of people far away in this world who need Christ’s hope, too.
