Episode #192 What Is Your True Calling? – What’s Going On?!

Hey friends, it's Jen and welcome to Good God Talks. In today's episode, we're talking about calling is actually part one of a two-part sequence here because calling is a big topic. It's something that we talk about a lot in the church and that's good. I'm not saying not to do that. But I have found that oftentimes when we talk about calling, we skip over the most important part.

When you think about calling most of us, based on our experiences in church settings or in conversations like this, tend to default to thinking about what we're called to DO. I feel called to teach. feel called to help believers experience a fullness of life with God.

That's a huge reason that I'm doing this podcast.
I also feel called to serve my husband as his wife, as his partner, and to serve my children as we disciple our children. And we invest in their health in all of the ways, including their spiritual health.

But our first calling is not what we do.

Our first calling is who we're created to be as children of God.

Our first calling is to God himself.

I'm going to read for us 1 Corinthians 1:9 first in the ESV, it says,

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV)

And then I'm also going to read it in the message version, which is more a paraphrase, not a literal word for word translation of scripture like the ESV, because it puts it in a little bit more everyday language.

And it says,

“God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.” (1 Corinthians 1:9 MSG)

We also see this concept of being called to God and into life with Him 2 Timothy 1:9-10, and I'll go back to the ESV for this, and it says,

“who [talking about God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began…” (2 Timothy 1:9 ESV)

Our holy calling, because of God's own purpose and grace, was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

And it continues,

“and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10 ESV)

You do have a calling and then an equipping and supernatural gifts that God will give you to partner with him in his ministry to the world. But that is not our first calling.

Our first calling is to God himself.

We get to share life with Jesus.

The good news, of the gospel is eternal life and light that is accomplished by Jesus since before the ages began of no works of our own.

You and I are called close to God. To enter into relationship with him. Into close intimacy, into fellowship with his son.

And so every time I talk about calling, I always want to start here because your calling first is to come to God, to receive. To come to him, to rest, to be close, to find your identity in him, to get back to the original design of how he's always created you.

And so that's where our question is going today. As we take this thought into conversation with God, I encourage you, ask him this question and follow ups. Take the time to hear what he would want to share with you about your relationship and this massively significant part of your calling. And here's our question:

God, how can I respond to your invitation to share life with you today?

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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