You Are Called By God, by Ps Kong Hee

Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 2 Timothy 1:9

There are four things 2 Timothy 1:9 tells us:

(1) You are called the moment you are saved. You need to see that being called is part of salvation. The moment you give your heart to Jesus, He saves you and calls you with a “holy calling.”

(2) Your calling sets you apart from the crowd. Because your calling is “holy,” it sets limits and boundaries to the things you can indulge in. Every Christian is like a champion athlete. An athlete sets himself apart to be better, faster and stronger. But in order to succeed, he must devote himself totally to that cause and go all out after it.

(3) God will give you the strength to fulfill your calling. It is not going to depend on your own abilities, level of education or social status. Whenever you go for job interviews, these are the things people generally quiz you about. What school did you come from? Do you have a degree? But when it comes to the calling of God, it is “not according to our works” or achievements. He is going to strengthen you by the power of the Holy Spirit. His grace is sufficient for you.

(4) God’s calling for you was settled before time began. God has settled in advance the destiny of your life. And when the right time comes, He calls you. Nothing in life happens by accident. You are part of God’s eternal plan even before He created anything. That is why when God saves us, He can immediately call us. Because your purpose was already in His mind. As such, you need to discover your calling. The way you do that is to unreservedly give God your life. Once you discover your purpose, you need to cultivate that calling. That requires focus, discipline and training.

One of the greatest soccer players who ever played for Manchester United is George Best. In practically every game he played, MU would win that match. But George Best was addicted to women and drinking. No one could rely on him to turn up for a game. The club wanted him so much that they offered him £50,000 every time he showed up, which was a lot of money in the sixties! But George Best blew it all away. Why? A lack of dedication. He never achieved his greatest potential because he didn’t cultivate his calling. The Holy Spirit will never lead you beyond the point that you want to be controlled by Him. There can be no substitute for the decision you make of your own accord. Don’t blow your calling because of a lack of decisive, radical dedication.