Day Thirty-Four

ONE CALLING

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.

—1 CORINTHIANS 12:4–6 CEV

When I taught school, my students learned to write five-paragraph essays. As you probably remember, those include an opening paragraph, a closing paragraph, and three main points. Those three points refer back to a thesis statement, which explains the main point of the essay.

I think our lives look like that. Each of our lives has a thesis statement—a main thing—one calling.

I’ve been trying to figure out what my thesis statement is when it comes to my calling because it can have different points. I think my thesis statement, so far, has been: I’m the friend who entertains you long enough that you learn something.

I have a friend named Jason, and he’s the bass player for a Christian artist. But he’s also their tour manager, which feels like two really different jobs. Like, one of them is playing an instrument onstage, and the other one is making sure everyone knows what time the tour bus is leaving. But the truth is, his thesis statement is that he keeps everybody in line. He has figured out what he’s good at. Just as a bass player is part of the percussion and keeps the rhythm, his calling is to help people stay in line.

Jobs will come and go. Your calling won’t.

Jesus was a carpenter, and He was our Savior. Jesus takes raw materials and turns them into things that matter. Jesus can take something broken and make it right. And it’s not because He had two different jobs. They are different expressions of His calling. Different points to His thesis.

Jobs will come and go. Your calling won’t. Whether it’s mothering or mentoring, teaching, nursing, building. It’s not what you do but how you do it.

The ways you express your calling are different. So ask God to help you find yours. Remember that there are many different kinds of gifts, but God is the Source of them all. Don’t be afraid to try out a different expression of your calling. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from what God wants you to do.

BE BRAVE: Work on writing a thesis statement for your life. What would you say is the theme of all the jobs, dreams, and opportunities you’ve had in your life?