God shaped you to prepare you for the purpose He created for you. God created a unique role for you to play. In every step you take and your decisions, God has determined a
destiny for you to fulfill that will bring Him glory. Trying to understand your purpose and calling can betake time and effort. Scholars have identified three different types of callings, the general call, the effectual call, and the technical call.
God’s general call goes to every being on earth. We are all called to turn from our sins, accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, and make Him the Lord of our life. We are called to become holy as God is holy, or to put it another way; we are called to be transformed into the image of Jesus. We refer to this first call as salvation. It is the building block or cornerstone for the act of any Christian service.
Calvinists and other Christians believe the effectual call is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moves on a person’s heart to receive salvation and become a Christian. People that respond to Christ in the faith accept this effectual call.
Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)
Lastly, there is a technical call. This is a calling that is related to a person’s life work. This is the calling that often causes people to wonder. They know that God has called them for a purpose in His kingdom – they do not know what. There are ways to discern your purpose or calling. Look at your gifting, the things you are naturally good at or come easy for you. Think about the things you are passionate about and where you see a need. Often the gaps that we see need filling are the works God calls us to. Ask your friends; they often realize our gifts before we do.
Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (NIV)
God set His mind on a purpose for each one of us. We have been on His mind since before the creation of the earth. God did not rethink after He made us and built an addition in our lives. Our purpose is to receive His love and grace, accept His forgiveness and share the salvation that we have received. We need to live on purpose, with purpose. Accept the calling and purpose He has given you, and walk in faith to fulfill that purpose.
I Corinthians 9:26-27, “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (NIV)
