Vocation part 4
I've heard people talk about "working" for God. Seen a bumper sticker that says, "Jesus is my boss." And while I guess I can appreciate the sentiment... our "Christian" lifestyle is so much more than that. Because, let's face it, most of us who have jobs punch out at the end of the day and forget that place exists until we have to punch back in. It's literally just a job. But when we're talking about Jesus... well... look at John 11:25, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." What I'm trying to say here is that there's more going on than work and taxes. I'm saying there's more available to us than just "working" for God. He IS life. Look at Acts 17:28, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being..." I always say it like this, "God doesn't just want to be a part of your life. He wants to BE your life. Because He IS life!" Now what does this have to do with our vocation, or our calling, or the invitation that God has extended to us? Well... everything. Because that invitation is for us to live. Jesus came that we might have LIFE and have it more abundantly. He came that we might experience and enjoy His life as He lives it in us, and through us, and as us. He came that we might know love. And in knowing love... in knowing that we ARE loved... love. To live is to love and to love is to live. If we have any sort of "job" on this earth--beyond what it takes to pay the bills, I'm talking about--it is to love one another as Jesus loves us. That's the new commandment, right? For the New Man. That's why we were created. God (who is love) wanted to express Himself. To us, and in us, and through us, and as us. He wanted to express love. And you can't love without something (or someone) to love. Love does not exist in a vacuum. My point is, if we live in Him, and move in Him, and have our being in Him... that means we live in love, move in love, and have our being in love. I can tell you, there are times when I don't want to do stuff. Times when I'm tired. Times when I'd rather be doing something else. And every single time that happens I have this thought--in a still, small voice deep inside me-- "Yeah... but you love them." And then I do it. I bend over backwards for people. Go the extra mile. Do things that other people won't do. And I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, or break my arm patting myself on the back. I'm simply saying, when love is your motive there are no excuses. When my knees hurt, but I still go for a walk with my kid... that's a labor of love. It's my calling to be his dad. And I endeavor to walk worthy of that calling. To do everything I can to be the best dad that I can. Maximum effort. While staying in my lane. Doing what I can do--what God has appointed and invited me to do--heartily (to the best of my ability and because it is in my heart to do it). It is the power of God working in us both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure. HE has put that desire to love one another inside of us. And, yes, sometimes that gets twisted and we think love means someone else should do for us. But love is never about getting. Because love IS giving. So don't look at your calling as a "job." Don't see it as something you're obligated to do, or something that you just have to get through. Embrace your calling. Do it because it is what makes you... you! And do it with love. For love. Because of love!