I've got a question for you, and it's important that you say the first thing that enters your mind. Ready? Here we go - Who are you? Now think about how you answered. Was it really who you are...or what you do? We often get the two confused. One can certainly affect the other, but the more important of the two is who we are. It is who we are that ultimately dictates what we do.
People all over the world are trying to figure out what to do. For many, the question concerns work. Do I take this job? Do I leave this one? Do I launch into a new career? Do I go to college, go back to college, answer that ad, return this call, look for something new, stay where I am, wait another year...give up? It's all about the "do". The problem there is we tend to use it to define who we are.
If the "do" is considered common, ordinary, or nothing special, we see ourselves in the same way. We become discouraged, depressed, and disappointed. Life is an unsatisfying struggle of simply making it through the day. If the "do" is unique, extraordinary, or glamorous, we become consumed, prideful, and self-centered. Life is a rush to live for the moment.
Paul once wrote, As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Ephesians 4:1). The correct question - the one that gets to who we are - is, What is my calling? But we must be careful. Some think this refers to what we do. A few interpretations even use the word "vocation" rather than "calling". But that's not what the word means.
The Greek word here is klesis, and it doesn't mean "vocation" nor, for that matter, "calling", at least not how we use the word today. Klesis means...invitation. So Paul was saying to live in a manner worthy of the invitation we have received. But what invitation? He goes on: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling (invitation)... (Ephesians 4:4)
And what does Paul mean by one hope? He's told us that, too. God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). It's Jesus! He is the one hope...the source of our invitation. And what is His invitation? The same as He gave His disciples and as He's given each of us. Follow me! (Matthew 4:19;8:22;9:9;16:24;19:21)
The invitation is to follow Jesus. Who are we? We are those committed to being like Jesus, or as Paul wrote, to be completely humble and gentle; patient, bearing with one another in love, and make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3). This is who we are meant to be! And being a follower of Jesus molds us into people who act and speak a certain way...people unique from the rest of the world.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).
Who are you? Are you one who follows Jesus? If you are, you'll know what to do.
