Activated Calling Come When a person discovers their gifting and its purpose for their life, they have found their calling. It is said that when this becomes your livelihood, the thing to which you devote your life, you will never work another day as you will be fulfilling the passion and desire of your heart. It may consume a great deal of your time and energy, but it will never be considered labor as its gratification overwhelms its demands. Far too many never get to experience the joy of their calling as they get drawn into the requirements of living the life that comes to them. Their vocation is just laboring to acquire the necessary means that meet financial obligations and desires. A Labor Day is the celebrated relief from this necessary evil. The new life we’ve received in Christ comes with its own calling: an opportunity to discover what we were truly created for. It’s so much more than just being driven by a particular aptitude, though. It’s identifying with a purpose that goes far beyond an earthly function, connecting with the plan of the Father’s heart. The process of finding and living out our calling begins with simply answering the call to come; to come out of darkness and into His light; to rest from life’s weights and yoke up with Him; to be strengthened and empowered in His presence; and to be filled with revelation and understanding. There really is no discovery of our heavenly calling apart from first responding to this call to come. Only by letting go of life’s labors and taking our place at His side can energies and efforts be exerted with fulfillment in an eternal purpose/calling. Notes Called to Come Isaiah 55:1-3 (NKJV) 1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—The sure mercies of David. Let go of weights and come Matthew 11:28 (NLT) 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) 28 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.” The call to all only activates in those who come John 6:37 (NKJV) 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For those who come - life John 10:10 (NKJV) 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. When call is answered, call is discovered James 4:8 (TLB) 8 And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and let your hearts be filled with God alone to make them pure and true to him. Hebrews 10:19-22 (NLT) 19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. In Him we find our purpose in His Philippians 2:13 (HCSB) 13 For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. Overview: It’s only in the discovery of our calling that we are freed from hindering weights. By answering the call to come we go to the place where our calling is at His side. We can go with confidence to the holy place at His side and be cleansed from diversions. It’s in His presence and at His side that we receive the abundant life He came to give. Prayer: I am overwhelmed, Lord, that You would consider me in providing a place at Your side. I am honored and blessed to answer Your call to come there by the way You’ve made through the blood. Let my life to be the fulfilling of Your call and purpose as a come to You now. Declarations: I have been called to come into the very presence of the Holy One. As I willingly respond to that call, I am freed from the weights of the world that would hinder my calling. In His presence I am cleansed from destructive passions and equipped with eternal ones. For the fulfilling of my life’s calling I am equipped and empowered in His presence.