Primary Christian Callings

Monday, March 01, 2010
John 17:1-10

How many of us can say this, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” The Lord Jesus Christ could say this. Of course, He is the Son of God. He should know what the Father has sent Him to do and finish it within 3 years of His ministry.

However, the next few verses explains what Jesus meant by finishing the work that the Father sent Him to do.

Evangelism and Discipleship:
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.” (discipleship). “they were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” Is it not true that God will provide for us the opportunities in our lives to witness to a couple of people and not just witness but disciple them as well? This should be one of our callings when we serve the Lord. But wait, there is more.

Preaching and Teaching the Word of God:
V8 “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me,” (teaching). Have we not been sent by God to proclaim the Word of God? We answer another one of our callings by preaching and teaching the Word of God that He gave to us. Even though we are not pastors, God has given us a Word in season that we can encourage one another with them.

Praying for one another:
V9 speaks of praying for those that God has given us. Everyone around us is His and we should pray for those that God has given in our care of. We should pray for one another and exhort them because that is when we activate God in their lives.

If we do not do missions, nor heal the sick or the blind, nor make the lame walk nor the deaf hear, nor prophecy over lives, nor become a full time pastor, these that Jesus has talked about should be everyone Christian’s calling. No matter where we come from, what we do or what we have, we can always do these and I believe this is our primary calling in life. This will determine that God will say on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Soon in life we will find our diversified calling but till then, know that you can still serve, worship and glorify the living God.