Last night at the Living Room Gabe, Vinnie, and I all talked about being “light in the world” and shining that light to all the world. Gabe and Vinnie both shared the message, pulling from Isaiah 49:1-6 (the second of the servant songs), and challenged us, not to find our calling, but to recognise it.
Gabe pointed out that not everyone is called to the same thing. And Paul expresses the same thing multiple times in his letters:
Romans 12:6-8
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith;7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
1 Cor 12:27-31
27 Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. 28 Here is a list of some of the parts he has placed in his Church, which is his body:
Apostles,
Prophets—those who preach God’s Word,
Teachers,
Those who do miracles,
Those who have the gift of healing;
Those who can help others,
Those who can get others to work together,
Those who speak in languages they have never learned.
29 Is everyone an apostle? Of course not. Is everyone a preacher? No. Are all teachers? Does everyone have the power to do miracles? 30 Can everyone heal the sick? Of course not. Does God give all of us the ability to speak in languages we’ve never learned? Can just anyone understand and translate what those are saying who have that gift of foreign speech? 31 No, but try your best to have the more important of these gifts.
Ephesians 4:11-13
11 Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries (evangelists), pastors, and teachers, 12 so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. 13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.
So you see, there are many things you may be gifted in, and it’s those things that you may be called through. Perhaps you’re an artist – how might you serve God through your art? Perhaps you’re a musician or a writer – how might you serve God through your music or stories? Perhaps you’re a good athlete – how can sports be a calling to serve God? Maybe you work at a mundane job serving coffee, taking phone calls, bagging groceries, etc. – still, God is at play – how might you serve God in those positions?
Following up from my talk last week on Isaiah 42, we all have been called to righteousness. Jesus, who is the Light of the World, says to you, “You are the light of the world (Matt 5:14).”
What does that mean for you?
Finally, I was quite intrigued during Vinnie’s talk when he kept saying, “so what now?”
After you’ve thought a bit about what being the light of world means to you, and you’ve recognised your calling (which is essentially loving God through your giftings), the next thing to ask yourself is “so what now?” What will you do about it now? It’s not enough to just know these things! We’re called to do them.
Peace be with you. Bless you as you confront and seek these things. Amen.