Have you ever wondered what your true purpose is? In the Christian faith, this search for purpose is wrapped up in a profound concept known as the Call of God. Far from being a vague, mystical feeling, God’s call is a direct invitation—a divine commission—extended to individuals and groups to accomplish His ultimate purpose and mandate. When God commissions someone, He doesn’t just give them a task; He grants them the authority to undertake it.
Let’s dive deep into what it truly means to be called, whom God chooses, and what happens after we say “yes.”
The Twofold Reality: Salvation and Service
1. The Call for Salvation
This is the universal invitation to accept God’s grace. The Scripture reminds us that “today is the day of Salvation” and urges us to “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” God’s deepest desire is that no one should perish, but that everyone should come to the saving knowledge of His truth.
2. The Call for Service
Once we are saved, we aren’t meant to sit idly by and simply wait for heaven. Every single person God saves, He saves for service. Beyond this general mandate, God also issues specific calls to individuals to serve in particular places, times, or roles.
Throughout history, we see this specific call beautifully illustrated in the lives of biblical figures:
- Abraham (Genesis 12) – Called to leave his homeland.
- Moses (Exodus 3) – Called from the burning bush to liberate a nation.
- Joshua, Samuel, & David – Appointed to lead, listen, and shepherd.
- Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Ezekiel – Commissioned as prophetic voices to the culture.
The Mechanics of a Specific Call: When God calls an individual for a specific task, God initiates the call and God chooses the individual. He then appoints and anoints them, providing the supernatural empowerment needed to finish the job.
God initiates the call >> God chooses the individual >> God appoints and anoints them
Whom Does God Call?
You might think God only chooses the most qualified, perfect people. Biblical history and human experience prove the exact opposite.
- He calls those who care: God chooses individuals burdened with genuine compassion for people, like Moses, David, the Apostle Paul, or modern missionaries like William Carey.
- He calls the industrious: God rarely calls the lazy; He chooses those who are already hard-working and actively engaged in life, just as He called Elisha from the plow, and Matthew, Peter, James, and John from their fishing business.
- He calls the humble: As 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 reminds us, God intentionally chooses the humble and the rejected of this world to confound the wise.
Key Principle: God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Jesus said, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19). He does the making; we provide the availability.
The Cost of the Calling
Answering the call is a radical pivot point in a person’s life. Once you say “yes” to God, it demands three things:
- Obedience: God expects us to follow through without making excuses (Luke 9:56-62).
- Sacrifice: A true call costs something. For Abraham, it was his homeland. For you, it might involve a career shift, stepping away from comfort zones, or re-evaluating relationships.
Self-Denial: Jesus made it clear that following Him requires us to lay down our own agendas and take up our cross daily (Luke 14:26-27).
The General Call: 8 Standards for Every Christian
While not everyone is called to be a global missionary or a full-time pastor, every Christian has a general call to step into active discipleship. We are not called to be mere converts; we are called to be disciples (learners who stay close to Jesus, as seen in Mark 3:15).
Here are the 8 distinct areas every believer is called to fulfill:
| General Call | Biblical Foundation & Description |
| 1. To Evangelize & Witness | To be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, shining brightly before men (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20). We are to be in the world, but not of it. |
| 2. To Be a Disciple | To be a lifelong learner who sits at the feet of Jesus. |
| 3. To Live a Worthy Life | Walking in humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love to maintain the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1, Colossians 3:15). |
| 4. To Mature in Faith | Building up the body of Christ so we achieve unity and maturity, ensuring we aren’t tossed around by false teachings (Ephesians 4:12-13). |
| 5. To Be Conformed to Christ | Actively transforming into the very image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). |
| 6. To Be a Living Sacrifice | Offering our physical bodies and daily choices as holy and pleasing worship to God (Romans 12:1-2). |
| 7. To Be Holy | Pursuing moral purity and distinctiveness, because He is holy (1 Thess. 4:3, 1 Peter 1:15-16). |
| 8. To Suffer for Christ | Recognizing that standing up for righteousness may bring opposition and suffering (1 Peter 2:21). |
The Heart of the Master: A Plentiful Harvest
Why is this call so urgent? We find the answer in the raw compassion of Jesus in Matthew 9:35-38:
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'”
The world today is still filled with people who are weary, scattered, and searching for direction. The harvest remains massive, but the workers are still too few.
God is still initiating the call. He is still looking for those who depend entirely on His strength, rather than their own power. He chose you so that you might go and bear fruit that will last (John 15:16).
