Do You See Your Calling?

“. . . separated to the gospel of God . . .” Romans 1:1

Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell—it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes. Paul did not say that he separated himself, but “when it pleased God, who separated me” (Galatians 1: 15). Paul was not overly interested in his own character. And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. “Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes.” To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose—to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9: 3). —Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

The heart of our calling is not self-improvement, but surrender—to be wholly given over to the proclamation of the gospel of God. Holiness is not the goal we chase; it is the fruit that grows when we root our lives in the reality of redemption. Too often we make faith about becoming better versions of ourselves, rather than becoming vessels for the message that saves. Paul didn’t boast in his moral progress—he was separated by God, not for personal greatness, but to make Christ known. When we focus only on our spiritual condition, we lose sight of the cross and the desperate need of the world around us. Redemption—not perfection—is the reality that transforms everything. God is not looking for polished saints, but surrendered souls who will carry His gospel with reckless trust. Let the gospel be your anchor, your mission, and your message—and everything else will follow. —DH