Together We Lead
specifically, how do you know when you have been called and what you have been called to do? These are only some of the questions that have often permeated my experience and walk with the Lord for the last two decades. Although the specifics may be different, my guess is many who are reading this book can relate. If we believe we serve a God who has spoken, wants to use us in ministry, and does specifically call individuals into vocational ministry, then why is that which is described here so often the case? As we examine scripture, there are several general statements we can make about the calling of God on an individual’s life. For instance, we know every believer is called generally to a life committed to Christ, growth in discipleship, and service in the kingdom (1 Peter 1:13–21; Colossians 2:6– 7; 3:12–17; Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8). As it relates to the specific call of God, a monolithic or standard pattern does not seem to exist. However, example after example in both the Old Testament and New Testament indicate that when people were called by God to a specific task or for a specific purpose, they knew it. Moses’s call was different from Isaiah’s call, yet they both responded. Peter’s call was different from Paul’s, but they both followed Christ. What have you answered the call to do? We can make three statements in reference to this question at this point. First, God’s call is always relevant to the times (Isaiah 6:8–9). Second, God’s call is always related to a people in that time (Acts 9:15–16; 20:28). And finally, the content of your call may take years to fully define and develop. Perhaps there are other questions we want answered. However, with these three axioms in mind, we must proceed knowing it is okay not to know all of the details of our call and to live with open hands before the Lord. Yet, at the same time, we must make several commitments regarding our call to serve. In this chapter, we will explore the call to vocational ministry by examining Jesus’s well-known command to 2
