Job 40-42 / 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 / Psalm 45 / Proverbs 22:14
When you find your life calling it may feel very “heavy”. You may be filled with fear, doubt, excitement, and many other emotions. You will face persecution and resistance; it will be only the few who will receive you as God designed you. Why? Because you are a threat to them. Because if you have found your path, that means there is a path to find. If others have not yet found their path, they will either be spurred to find it, or get angry at you for what you are doing that they are not.
It seems unfair, but it’s human nature. The compelled ones cannot help but run and speak, while the lazy ones cannot find anything to compel them. I’ve often wondered why some are compelled and others sit idly by watching from the stands. What makes one a Caleb – the one with a different spirit who served God wholeheartedly. Why is it that only a few step up into their calling, while others wander through life unsure of what God meant for them?
I believe it is because our enemy does not want us to know who we are, so he fights against us relentlessly. Some fight back and some are not aware that they may fight back because of upbringing, past trauma, or their faith experience. Our enemy has been attempting to throw mud and cast shade on us since our conception. I’m sad to tell you this, but he hates you and wants to kill, steal from, and destroy you.
But there is good news! Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. GREATER is JESUS in you than the devil who thinks he rules anything or has the upper hand in any situation. There may be giants in the land, but Jesus Christ through the cross has given us complete and total victory! Once we see our victory, we have a mandate.
I have several favorite portions of scripture – Isaiah 61 is a life mandate for me. I also really love Romans 8. But when I read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 I have a hard time staying in my skin. This is my life’s calling. Let me put those verses here so you can read them. The title of this portion of scripture is We Are God’s Ambassadors.
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
There is not space to speak about every verse because I prefer to keep these entries short for your sake. I will bring out one sentence, maybe two! He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. If I have received His new life, I will not live for myself. I will live to rescue and restore others who have not yet seen and received what I have seen and received. After all, isn’t this the one message that matters most!
God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. There it is. If you do not know your calling, this is at least part of it! I already have eternal life. I already have Jesus Christ. I am already a daughter of the King. What about my fellow man and woman? Who will speak to them? Who will rescue them? You may say, “It is God’s job to rescue.” And you are correct, however, He does that rescue operation through you and me.
We are at war. I encourage you to find your post, arm yourself with God’s Word and Spirit and hold fast. Do not waver, do not be fearful because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
