When we talk about our calling most of us respond with the name of a career or a profession. At our college we talk to our students about their calling to be a teacher, a nurse, a businessman, a pastor, a tradesmen or a service provider. Happy are the persons who knows their calling. They can get on with life and pursue excellence in their field. Sometimes I see frustrated students nearing graduation and still not know their calling. Often we guide them on to graduate school hoping they can use that as a stepping stone to fulfillment. According to I Peter 3 there is a common calling for all of us. This day, this very moment, God is calling each of us to be a blessing.
This supersedes all other callings. This is the icing on the cake for whatever profession, job or career that fills our lives. No matter how rotten we feel when we get up we still have a calling. We are to find someone that day whose burden we can lighten by providing something physical or emotional. Peter wrote, “All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this!”
He goes on to tell us we also will receive a blessing. It is true. The best way to get ourselves out of the dumps is to do something nice for another. It is very difficult to stay in a bad mood when we see another person light up because of something we did for them. It’s contagious.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 21, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org