We throw the term “calling” around quite a bit in the church, but do we really understand what it means? Pastor Craig Groeschel points out that God calls us in three distinct ways. First, God calls us to salvation. He calls us to repent, and then by His grace forgives us. Second, God call us to temporary assignments. This is the type of call most of us have in mind when we think of calling. He may call you to go on a mission trip, teach a Sunday School class, or even make ministry your vocation. While this calling may last a long time (I’ve known people to teach Sunday School for 40 plus years), it has a defined start and a defined end. It may be long-term, but its still to a certain place/ministry/people for a certain amount of time. There is a third calling that Peter talks about throughout his letter. This calling is every bit as important as the other two, but its one we are quick to overlook. This is the calling to live a different lifestyle. In fact, this is a calling EVERY CHRISTIAN has.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
Let’s break down the things Peter says we are called to be in this passage:
God’s Own Possession: God paid for our sins by His blood so that we may enter His Kingdom. He suffered and sacrificed all so that we may live.
A Chosen People: Called to be a city on a hill: a shinning example of God’s love to all people at all times.
A Royal Priesthood: We are called to lead people in our lives (friends, relatives, neighbors, etc.) to know, believe, and worship God.
A Holy Nation: We are called to not only worship Jesus, but to act and live like Him.
Do you notice the common thread in all of these callings? It’s that we are called to live our daily lives in a manner that honors God and blesses others. Put another way, we are ALWAYS on call for God. We are called to live in a way that attracts people to God (chosen people). We are called to live in such a way that we can lead others to a relationship with God (Royal Priesthood). We are called to live our lives in the same manner Jesus did. We are called to do all of these things because we are God’s possession, called into His Kingdom by Jesus’ death on the Cross. I urge all of us to take a few minutes today to ask ourselves: Am I living out God’s calling on a daily basis? Am I living out the calling to a different lifestyle that God has given me, His own possession?
