Fierce : Uncommon Faith in Uncertain TimesSample

FIERCE CALLING

If we asked 100 people what they want to be when they grow up, what do you think they would say? Maybe they’d say doctor, teacher, engineer, youth pastor, or if they're smart, maybe cooking competition judge!

We’ve all been asked 'what we want to be' a million times. So instead of asking you what you want to be when you grow up, we actually have the answer for you. 

Ready?

Well, hold up. Before we jump to the answer, we have to explain something first. This is absolutely critical to understand in life: the difference between the words vocation and occupation.

The word occupation is often used to refer to what you do for a living and it’s simply defined as “a way of spending time” – in other words, being “occupied.” Many things can occupy your time and provide a paycheck, but that does not necessarily mean whatever fills your time is also God’s purpose for you. Think of it like this: how you make a living is not necessarily why you are living.

The word vocation however goes a bit deeper. The word actually come from the Latin vocare which means “to call.” But not like, call on the phone. Think of “calling” in this context as an invitation from God to the choose His plans for your life. Did you know God has specific reasons you are alive and things he wants you to accomplish (Jeremiah 29:11)? How amazing is that? 

Ok, are you ready to learn what you are going to be when you grow up? The answer to that, according to the Bible, is actually not hard to answer. Our main purpose and vocation in life is to glorify God by being ambassadors for His kingdom and agents of new creation (II Corinthians 5:16). Instead of defining ourselves by our occupation, God wants us first be defined by our vocation. Every other decision then becomes secondary to that purpose. Make it your life goal to align your vocation with your occupation. It is as that intersection that you will find who you were designed to be.

So, maybe asking “what do you want to be when you grow up” is actually beginning with the wrong question. A better question to start with is: “Who do I want to serve?” That question makes you choose if you will serve your own dreams or God’s dreams. The most fierce and fulfilling life you can ever imagine is one where you follow your calling in humility before your loving maker.

Prayer: Lord, help me live out your calling on my life. Help me to be a bold representative for you in front of anyone. Help me first experience your new creation and teach me how to share it with the world. 

We hope you enjoyed this devotional from The Gathering Place! You can learn more about us here .