The Calling

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

It’s a question almost every child is asked.

I remember being asked that question many years ago in a little one-room country schoolhouse called Fisher School. There were only about twenty students total—from kindergarten through sixth grade—all learning together under the care of one teacher.

I was young and don’t remember exactly what grade I was in, but I do remember the question.

Our teacher asked each of us, “If you could be anything when you grow up, what would you be?”

I didn’t spend much time thinking about it.

My answer came quickly.

“If I could be anything…”

“I’d like to be a fire truck.”

As you can imagine, that answer was met with quite a bit of laughter throughout our little one-room schoolhouse.

After all, most children answered with things like doctor, farmer, teacher, nurse, or firefighter.

Not me.

I wanted to be a fire truck.

For years, that memory has simply been a funny childhood story. But recently, as I’ve spent time reflecting on the true identity God has given me, I realized something I had never seen before.

God has recently impressed upon my heart that my true identity is “Freedom Fighter”.

Not someone who fights people.

Someone who fights for people.

Someone who points others toward the freedom Christ offers.

And suddenly that little boy’s answer made perfect sense.

When I said I wanted to be a fire truck, I wasn’t thinking about shiny red paint or flashing lights. Somewhere deep inside, I think I was saying, I want to be something that can help put out fires.

Looking back, I can see that desire has never really left.

Today those fires look different.

Sometimes they’re fires of fear.

Sometimes they’re fires of condemnation and shame.

Sometimes they’re fires of addiction, brokenness, deception, hopelessness, or spiritual bondage.

As followers of Christ, we’re called to bring the water of God’s truth and grace wherever the flames are burning.

Maybe that little boy wasn’t as confused as everyone thought.

Maybe he simply hadn’t learned the words yet.

What Does It Mean to Be Called?

When Christians hear the phrase “being called,” many immediately think about vocation.

Am I called to ministry?

Am I called to missions?

Am I called to teach?

Am I called to this career or that opportunity?

Those are important questions.

But when Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1, “I… urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” he isn’t primarily talking about our occupation.

He’s talking about our true identity.

Before God calls us to do something, He calls us to belong to Him.

The first three chapters of Ephesians tell the incredible story of what God has done for us.

He chose us.

He adopted us.

He saved us by grace.

He united us into one family through Christ.

Then chapter four begins with a turning point.

Paul is essentially saying: Because this is who you are, now live like it.

Our calling isn’t something we earn.

It’s something we receive.

And our lives become the response.

Living Worthy of the Calling

Paul immediately describes what living worthy of that calling looks like.

It isn’t first about accomplishments.

It isn’t about titles.

It isn’t about recognition.

It begins with character.

Humility.

Gentleness.

Patience.

Bearing with one another in love.

Making every effort to preserve unity.

In other words, the evidence that we understand our calling is found less in what we accomplish and more in understandingn who God calls us.

That’s challenging.

Because our world celebrates influence.

God celebrates transformation.

Identity Before Assignment

I’ve come to believe one of the greatest mistakes we make is spending our lives asking, “What has God called me to do?” while never first asking, “Who has God called me to be?” When identity comes first, assignment begins to make sense.

A freedom fighter may write.

Or speak.

Or mentor.

Or pray.

Or encourage.

Or build businesses.

Or raise children.

Or serve quietly behind the scenes.

The assignment changes.

The true identity remains.

That’s why I no longer spend as much time trying to discover my purpose as I do trying to faithfully live from the true identity Christ has already given me.

Maybe We’re More Like That Little Boy Than We Think

I smile now when I remember that little classroom at Fisher School.

I can still imagine the laughter.

But perhaps that little boy accidentally stumbled onto something profound.

He didn’t want status.

He wanted to help.

He wanted to be useful where the fires were burning.

Looking back, I can see the fingerprints of God even then.

I wasn’t called to become a fire truck.

But I have been called to help extinguish fires wherever Christ sends me—with His truth, His love, His hope, and His freedom.

And maybe that’s what being called has always been about.

Not first asking, “What do I want to become?”

But understanding who God says I already am…and then walking worthy of that calling every single day.

(Click Here to learn more on understanding the True Identity God has given you.)