We all have that certain special place in the Kingdom.
Some places are specialized - like that of reaching into society by counseling others, or being a pastor on a space station (don't I wish), or even teaching parents how to raise kids. Others are called to more more generalized areas - like [simply] loving others, or [just] being who they are in Christ and blessing others as a result of that.
That being said, there are a couple of areas that we ALL have in common. Here's the first one:
You have been called to continue the ever-expanding ministry of Jesus Christ.
Think of a relay race. The runner is coming up to you, reaching the baton to you as you run to link up with him. Seamlessly and effortlessly he hands you the baton. He straggles to a stop, out of breath. You pick up the pace with new stamina.
This is something like that. Jesus has handed off the baton to you, to you, to me. It's not a new thing. But it remains consistent through the ages. It looks like this:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
(Luke 4:18-19)
And this:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 20:18-20)
Regardless of who you are - your gifts, skills, or temperament - these Scriptures capture the heart of what all followers of Jesus have been called to do. Read them again, slowly. This is who we are.
"But Bill," you may protest. "Those Scriptures aren't about me. They are about Jesus. I want to know his call for me."
First of all, the above Scriptures are about you - and all of us who have been called into Christ (Eph. 4:4). If we have been called to one Body, which we have, and that Body is Christ, which it is, and if he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which he is, and he is not able to physically get down here and do it on his own because he is in heaven, which he true, how else would he continue the good work the Father has asked him to do?
To say it simpler: Until he comes again, Jesus will always be working within the parameters of his original call. In one sense he is restricted because he is in heaven. In a far more glorious sense, he is doing it more-so all over the world, through us, because we are his Body (mind, flesh, spirit) in the world).
This is the DNA of all calls. This is what you have been called into. It may look different here and there (and well it should) but at the heart of your call, these Scriptures will be integrated into your essence, or you have no call at all.
So this is the first essential broad-brush swap on the canvass. On second thought, this IS the canvass: Integration of all we do must be done within the ongoing parameters of Luke 4:18-19 and Matthew 20:18-20 or we have already missed the mark. Read through them again above and see how you fit in. Just for fun.
In part 3 we'll look at a series questions relating to the colors you're painting with.