Gifts and Calling From the moment of conception, there is the forming of a specially designed person with unique gifts and abilities. Though there is a need for development in order for them to reach their full potential, those gifts are part of who we were made to be by our Creator. From birth, however, there is a challenge to the existence of these abilities and whether or not their true purpose will be realized. There is a strong trend toward “my body, my choice”, “self-identity”, and “self-determination”, where the direction for those God-given gifts will be decided and limited to the personal perspective of the created. This grasp on one’s own life has made it so that large portions of society never really discover their true gifts and purpose. It’s not enough to just have abilities that came as a free gift without merit or choosing. They will need direction, instruction and development. How they are utilized for a beneficial purpose is something that will never be fully known, though, until the hold on self-control is given up to the Lordship of Christ. Answering His call to lose our life puts us in position to discover the life He came to give us with a purpose so much bigger than self could ever decide. This call, though given to all, only becomes effective when there is a response to it from a heart that is ready to submit wholly to His plan. From this initial response, an opening is made to a lifetime of responding to His invitation for gift application. The limitations of self are replaced by His limitless power and character as what had once been desperately held onto is placed in His hands. Notes Self-determination vs submitted-determination Matthew 16:25 (NKJV) 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. That new life is a continued loss of old for new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (TLB) 17 When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand-new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! With new life – an invitation at every turn. Isaiah 30:21 (NLT) 21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. When gift becomes vocation/call Romans 11:29 (TLB) 29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises. Gifts – unique qualities we are given in our design and creation. Call – the invitation to discover the full potential of those gifts in God’s presence and under His Lordship. Gift – something freely received; Call – the vocation of that gift with a purpose. Called is when you become known by the way your gifts have been applied. In our response to His call, we’re positioned for full gift development/application – both natural and spiritual. 2 Peter 1:3-11 (TLB) 3 For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! 4 And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character. 5 But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good, and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do. 6 Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. 7 This will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply. 8 The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But anyone who fails to go after these additions to faith is blind indeed, or at least very shortsighted and has forgotten that God delivered him from the old life of sin so that now he can live a strong, good life for the Lord. 10 So, dear brothers, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen, and then you will never stumble or fall away. 11 And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In His call – much greater purpose as part of His body. Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT) 1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. When His call becomes our life. Galatians 2:20 (TLB) 20 I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Overview: We have all been given unique and special gifts and a call to develop them as intended. Self-determination is severely limited and dangerous. Submitted-determination is unlimited, with God’s power and character. We are known/called by how we’ve responded to His call to new life. A called life goes way beyond just an initial response to a fully developed life of purpose-driven gifts. We’ve all been given a personal invitation/call from the Father, but living worthy of it is determined by unity with His body. When who we are is fully liberated, it’s no longer us doing the living, but we’re the called in Christ. Prayer: As I draw near to You now, I desire to respond with hope-filled joy to Your call on my life. My heart is open and my ears are attentive to Your direction of those gifts that I’ve received from You. I am committed to their full development in Your hands and for Your kingdom purpose. Declarations: I am fearfully and wonderfully made with God-given gifts that have kingdom purpose. By responding to God’s call to draw near I am able to hear and submit to His direction for those gifts. Letting go of my limited self-determination, I submit to unlimited power and God-character in His will. From the old self-focus, I am called to a much greater purpose in building up Christ’s body. I choose to live a life worthy of my calling and filled with eternal hope in glorifying my Redeemer.