Called with Purpose
God has called every one of us with a unique purpose.
Peter’s calling is found simply in this scripture:
‘Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ…’
2 Peter 1:1-4
Peter uses both his names to introduce himself. The troubled, fearful, mercurial Simon, and the born again, leader of the church, new man in Christ, Peter.
He also synthesises the fact that he is a Servant but also an Apostle. The important thing is to keep these in balance. Being an Apostle, a leader, doesn’t mean we no longer need to serve, and being a servant does not mean we therefore sacrifice leadership strength.
Peter is used so amazingly by God, yet the Bible presents him in a very real way. The writers of Scripture didn’t hide one thing about Peter’s failures or their own. He is very human as well as very called.
Neither his humanity nor his failures disqualified him from the call, the gifts and the anointing upon his life.
He is the living illustration that all things work together for good for those who love God who are the called according to His purpose.
The reason the Scripture says fear not is because we fear.
The reason the Scripture says forgive, is because we sometimes hate.
The reason the Scripture says be strong, is because often we are weak.
The reason the Scripture says resist the devil, is because the devil is attacking you with depression, anxiety, anger, impurity, uncleanness.
The reason Jesus died and shed His blood is so we can be cleansed, not just at the point of salvation but continually throughout the rest of our lives.
His blood is available to the repentant heart.
You will need to repent more than once throughout your life. In fact Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘Forgive us our sins…’, every day.
Paul talks about how he wanted to do the right thing, but found himself doing the thing he was determined to not do, and then he found the thing that he determined he would do, this he found himself not doing. He cries out for answers. He looked for a power beyond himself to help him live the life of a disciple.
There are keys to living above our lower nature. Jesus has provided a pathway of victory.
This is sometimes a breakthrough moment, but not often. Mostly we grow into victory.
Day by day by day we become more and more effective at living above ourselves, our circumstances and situations that drag us down.
One of the most guaranteed means of growth is the acceptance of responsibility.
‘When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.’
1 Corinthians 13:11
When a young man is given a leadership role at school, it accelerates his growth.
When he gets a job, he grows some more. His character starts to form. He arrives early. He meets deadlines. His lifestyle changes because he has to fulfil priorities.
He gets married and instantly this demands growth in character. Sacrifice, self denial, accomodating for someone else in his whole life, in his finances, his emotional life, his mental life, even what he watches on TV.
He has children, he grows exponentially.
When you take up the call of God and what you’re gifted and called to do, you accept the responsibility of leadership in another way.
As outlined in my book Leadership 101, a healthy, growing leader will become a;
Vision Caster
Team Builder
Decision Maker
Problem Solver
Culture Creator
Path Maker
I would like to think that the church is a place where people’s potential is maximised - a place where we all discover the call of God on our lives and we accept that.
‘All things work together for good for those who are called…’
Romans 8:28
All of us are called. All of us have purpose.
I would like to think that all our church members are strong in carrying responsibility.
Accepting responsibility is not just a momentary thing. It is discharging that responsibility every day in all the areas we have authority.
Isaiah offered himself specifically in response to a general call. He said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’.
He was basically saying ‘I’m available for whatever it is you need’.
‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.’
Romans 12:1
We must present ourselves as ready, acceptable, skilled, available, trustworthy and reliable.
Who would you like to represent you to the most important people in your world?
God looks for people who will be ambassadors for Him representing Him well. Character is what we do repeatedly. Through good habits you’ll create good character.
