http://www.omfisaan.org/?p=426
writer: Marten Visser
How do you know whether you have a call to be a missionary? People often ask me this, especially young people. My best answer is: the question is wrong.
The Bible does not teach us that God reveals His children His plan for their lives. That is also true for missionaries,
as well as for pastors and church leaders. Many people are looking for a special calling from God when they are thinking about missionary work or serving in a church. I want to be clear about that: That is not necessary.
People are expecting a special calling through a God-given impression, a Bible text that speaks in a special way to your heart, or special circumstances that point the way. But: an impression is just an impression. A Bible text means what is says in the context of the Bible. Special circumstances can always be explained differently.
To look for God’s guidance in this way therefore leads to a lot of uncertainty. That fact should be enough to make us question this concept of God’s call. The Lord is more than capable to make us clear what He means. That so many people have hesitations about their calling, is not His fault. It even does not have to do with that we are not listening. It mainly has to do with the fact that many people think about God’s call in the wrong way.
The Lord does not lead first of all through speaking to our heart. First of all, He leads us through His Word. In the Bible we find many commandments that teach us how to live. In the Bible we read what is important to God, and how he involves people in His plans.
As we grow in faith, more and more we get the desire to serve God. But how? The answer is simple: you may decide for yourself. God gives His children the freedom to, within the boundaries of His revealed will, make decisions for their own lives.
So whether you become an accountant in the US, build an electricity network in rural Africa, or plant churches in Thailand, it’s all good. Whether you volunteer for your church, start a Bible study with unchurched people, expend your energy in raising your children in the fear of the Lord, or show the members of your sports club what it means to live with Jesus, it’s all allowed.
In saying this, I do not mean that these are all good things, and that you have to find out what God’s intention for you personally is. No, these are all good things, and these are all good things for you (with the possible exception of giving all your energy to raising your children, which I do not beieve is a biblical option for men). That realization takes away the pressure.
The most important is the desire to serve God. When you live close to Him, that desire grows. That makes the chance that you want to devote your life to full-time service in church or mission bigger. But how you serve God, and in what kind of position, will also be dependent on your ability and opportunity to serve.
Your ability to serve include your spiritual gifts, your talents, your experiences and your personality. These will all ensure that your are a good fit for some ministries and would be unhappy and, more important, less effective in other ministries. Your opportunity to serve is the circumstances you find yourself in. Your age, health, finances, and where you live are all important factors that determine which ways to serve are better or less suited for you.
The most important for living according to God’s will therefore is a deep and growing desire to serve Him. That will also be displayed in a character that is more and more like Jesus’. It a notable fact that in the New Testament lists of requirements for elders, always character traits are mentioned. An internal calling is never mentioned.
The only question you need to ask when you live close to God, is: “Does this honour God?”, and: “Does this suit me?”. When you have answered these questions honestly, in important cases together with other Christian whom you respect as spiritual leaders, you may continue on the path that seems best to you. You do not have to fear that you are missing out on a secret plan for your life that God has in store for you.
For God determines everything. He determines which number you roll with a dice (Proverbs 16:33). If even a small thing like that is determined by Him, you may be confident that He has a plan for your life. For He is a God who works all things according to the counsel of His willl (Ephesians 1:11). ‘All things’ certainly includes the details of your life. And HE will make sure it happens!
In the Bible there are many examples that God leads in a special way. In the New Testament it already seems rarer than in the Old Testament. It seems probable to me that with the completion of the Holy Scriptures the Lord allows His children to make their own adult choices, based on His revealed will.
This of course does not exclude that God may still make His will clear in a special way. But we should not be expecting that (neither should we expect that he will not), and we should not wait for it.
In summary:
God’s call = the desire to serve God + the ability + the opportunity.
My reply:
thanks for sharing, Marten!
this morning i heard a missionary's sharing, and i thought... "what if i am called to be a missionary today... ?". so i decided to go through your website to look for a hint :)
your article makes God's "calling" clearer. aren't we all missionaries for God, everyday, everywhere, as long as the heart is willing? even if the path or the opportunity is unclear, i've to believe he will lead us according to his will, just as he had led Jonah, moses, esther, peter, paul, etc...
today, i'm reminded how God's way is usually never anything close to our way, and i'm also reminded once again to walk in faith.
blessings!!
