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Hello,
Hopefully you’ve been taught at a young age that you can do anything you put your mind to because you can. God supernaturally supplies abilities to help you, and the greatest one is learning. Even people with disabilities can’t write themselves off for accomplishing great things. I’m middle aged, and never played hockey, but I’m a fan. A man my age doesn’t have a chance at the pros if he didn’t dedicate himself to the game early in life. I mean, it may happen some odd day in the future, but lets just focus on paths that make the most sense.
There’s only so many paths to be able to take, so lets focus on what is most possible. Sometimes what you want, and what looks unlikely, are the same thing. In this case, you should go for it. God can supply where you lack, and this is how He often operates in our lives.
One example was when God called Moses to serve. Moses was trying to take the humble route and asking God to choose someone stronger. But Moses was almost in a way sinning by trying to play it safe. You can’t tell God that he is making a mistake when he chooses you! That is close to a sin. God doesn’t make mistakes. God doesn’t always call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? Exodus 3:11 (NKJV).
Pray for dedication and then dedicate yourself to what you want to do. Two things we need a great deal are dedication and discipline. Dedication is often found when you really want to do something because you’re passionate for it or you find it fun. Discipline is a great attribute, but discipline is hard to teach someone else. Discipline is best if it is self taught. By putting less time in one avenue of life, you can put more in another.
Everyone needs to exercise to stay in shape. So sometimes you can tell someone’s discipline level by their physique. But please don’t fat shame people because that is just a form of hate. If you yourself are out of shape, all it takes is doing some aerobics each day until you’re tired or one to three hours of moving around. Also discipline on the diet, but don’t ask me on that one. I wake up and have a soda and Ramen noodles some days. I need to work on my diet to be better personally. I guess I should pray that God helps me with my diet and have a conscious effort to avoid drinking more than one pop per day.
So the highest calling of all is to be a servant of God. There are many ways of serving. We should aspire to serve God in some way. The first one everyone thinks of is clergy. Clergy is okay if you’re alright with just getting by. And Pastors have to be head first during funerals and weddings. To me, that is too stressful and sad. Outside of God calling me to do it I don’t see myself involved in this avenue of serving.
My own personal calling I take is that of an online preacher. I write articles for this website and also on www.Reddit.com and www.twitter.com . I know God is real. So I figure I should tell people! It’s that simple. You can be an online preacher too. Read your Bible at least once in full. Then take to the Internet and tell people God loves them in encouraging ways! Just be sure not to fall into arguments with non-believers who are stuck in their ways.
It’s better not to argue with people, because it pushes them away from your side the more you argue! Keep conversations civil and move on when they no longer bear any fruit. And if you don’t want to be a fully equipped preacher, but still want to vocalize your support for God’s Kingdom, anyone can tell people that Jesus loves them whenever they get a chance.
Another great way of being called by God is giving to the poor. Educate yourself always, work a moral job, live a frugal life, and help the poor with what you can spare. Just working a job even if you’re content at living with less money is good.
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.Love God by working hard for money, and hate money by giving it away. Matthew 6:24 (NKJV).
We should generally always be active for God, though rest is good too. There are many other callings too. Before choosing a calling, pray about it. Let the Holy Spirit lead you. And think about it personally. Is it something you want to do? Do you have some strengths in one area that could be leveraged. Do you have the faith to serve at the level required? There are many parts in the Body of Christ and they serve different purposes, but they all support the Body.
20 “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:20-26 (NKJV).
Worldly callings and hobbies are okay to a degree too. Sometimes they intersect with a Godly calling too. Look at the Olympians, and the opportunity they have, to dedicate their achievements to God on a world stage. They win first in the world then they humble themselves and say God is the one for their life and they love Jesus.
24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NKJV).
Jesus talked about taking our light to be seen better, and this is a shining example of this:
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV).
A lot of hobbies can intersect with a Godly calling like this. Do you go on forums online or Facebook? You could have your profile or signature say something nice about Jesus. Then all you have to be is helpful and good to all. People will garner a strong impression coming from someone who loves Jesus. :)
Whatever you do, do it for the glory of the LORD if you can.
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV).
Thank God for meals and everything you have when you can. There are plenty of examples of people who have it rough being able to participate in hobbies where much skill is needed. People from poor families have become doctors before. Becoming a doctor is a calling, because Jesus himself was a doctor and we can use more doctors until everyone in every country has access. Look around, there’s something you can do. And try and cut some tv watching out if you’re older because that tends to be a waste of time that you could be doing something better and developing your skills. We should try and be doers and when we have more time for doing, that helps.
Anyway, I hope this blesses you. Believe in Jesus because he believes you. My Prayer is that you’re inspired by Jesus Christ to serve in some capacity somewhere or aspire to do it when you’re more equipped.
Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good; impatience will get you into trouble. Proverbs 19:2 (GNT).
God bless and protect you, your friends, your family and their friends and families. May there be healing where needed.
James W. Sager III