Last week’s post, written before the election but published after, talked about our need to “do the work,” God’s work. We need to live the Great Commandment to love God and love others (Matt. 22:36–40). We need to invest in the Great Commission with our lives, our time and our money (Matt. 28:19). We are required by God to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly (Micah 6:8).
So how do we decide how God wants us specifically to do his work? Here are a few things to consider:
We can’t do everything.
The needs of the world are overwhelming. The opportunities to make disciples are many. Injustice and hate abound. No one person can work in every ministry, support every missionary and missions project, or right every injustice.
But we are all called to do something.
What injustice in the world particularly breaks your heart? What wrong would you right if you had a magic wand? What positive change happening in the world do you wish to be a part of? What frontier in missions gets you excited? As Frederick Buechner said:
“The place God calls you to is
the place where your deep gladness and
the world’s deep hunger meet.”
We are gifted to do our “something’ in specific ways.
What gifts has God given you to use in the place he calls you?
These could be spiritual gifts he has placed within you by the power of his Spirit, like teaching or giving. He also gifted you with a variety of talents that allow you unique opportunities to serve. And you likely have developed skills in your life that are niches to make a difference in the world. Even your experiences—good or bad—develop empathy and wisdom that you can employ to help another human being. What are your gifts from God and how can you use them in your calling?
Here’s a recent example from my own life: I’ve always been interested in languages, but most of my foreign (Spanish) or ancient (Greek and Hebrew) language knowledge has long since faded away. I love the Word of God, reading it, studying it, memorizing it, teaching it.
A couple of years ago, we came to know Anita and Jamie Farr and their kids, a missionary family our church supports, who work with Wycliffe Bible Translators. (Actually, we met Jamie, who invited us to come stay with them in Florida to learn more about Wycliffe. We took him up on it, only to find out later he hadn’t actually told Anita he invited us, only that we were coming. Thankfully we all hit it off very well.)
Jamie works in the department that recruits new personnel for Wycliffe. We asked what we could do to help. Jamie knew I had some talent for writing and had developed my advertising and social media writing skills. And so he asked if I would consider volunteering to do some writing for his department. After another stay with the Farrs this past March with many meetings with writing and marketing personnel at Wycliffe USA, I have now begun crafting blog posts, tweets (like those pictured on this page) and Facebook posts for the organization.
My interests, talents, skills and experiences (including meeting the Farrs) all came together to point out a way I can serve the Great Commission.
God puts it all together. We need to identify the gifts and the call, and then we need to act.
What’s your “something”?
What skills, talents, experiences and gifts do you bring to it?
How will you employ them—starting now—to fulfill the mission God designed you for?
Super. Love to hear this. What a neat way to share what you know. AND I know Jamie Farr, so it was fun to see his family here. Such a positive blog after the election.
Great guy, right?! Thanks for your kind words.