What Does it Mean to be Called?

For the last several weeks, I have been meditating on a simple scripture found in Ephesians 4:1, which simply tells us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” At first glimpse I noticed that the command was one of motion/movement-to walk. One translation says to live a life, one says to lead a life…it’s progressive and not stagnant at all. 

So now that I know I should be walking/moving, the next thing I need to define is “in a manner worthy”. Looking up some words that help understand “worthy”, I discovered traits like valuable, honorable, prime, prized and cherished. 

These words all describe what God says about you and me. We are valuable because He said so. He gave His life for our eternal life. We are His prized possession. We are cherished by God. Let that soak in just a bit. This gives me a picture of what godly confidence might look like. Walking like you know you are His. Like you are aware that you matter. Like you believe that He cares about every single thing that happens to you. 

But there is a second piece to that worthy walking command: “worthy of the calling”. This brings me to the question, what does it mean to be called? To be “called” is to be chosen by God for a specific purpose. There is something that you have within you that is unique to you (giftings) and that uniqueness is meant to be shared. God has plans for you. And when we surrender to that “calling” we begin to live on purpose and with purpose. 

Personally, I feel like you discover that specific purpose when you connect it to the things that you feel really passionate about. Or there is something that you have a burden for, and God uses your skillset to deal with it.

Realize that God is far more involved with His universe and its creatures than we might think. 

'Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. ' 

Isaiah 46:9-11

This removes all doubt as to His sovereignty. Though He has given you and me the freedom to make decisions, His choices have already been made. He chose YOU. He has appointed YOU for His purposes. YOU are “called” by God to move on this planet in your uniqueness and use your abilities and skills to help others find God too. And here is the great news…”God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29

Here is an important point to remember. As you grow and mature, so does the calling. You stay active. You keep walking in a manner worthy of that calling.

YOU have ALL you need! 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to

add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 2 Peter 1:3-9