Be A World-Changer: Ministry
The Chicago skyline is one of the most beautiful in the world. Lake Michigan lies to the East as you travel Lake Shore Drive from the northern to southern boundaries of the city. I have lived in the Chicago area my entire life and am always awed by the magnificent skyscrapers that make up downtown Chicago.
It’s ironic that when I walk anywhere downtown I have no sense of the beauty of the skyline. Like tall trees in a forest, I can only see the tall buildings on either side of the street. It’s only when I stand in front of the Adler Planetarium at the tip of a 91-acre peninsula called Northerly Island that the view dramatically changes. The sweeping panoramic view of the skyline can literally take your breath away.
The same phenomenon occurs when looking at the components of God’s calling. There’s no sense of appreciation for God’s design when you look at the components piecemeal. It’s only when you step back and look at the panoramic view that you begin to appreciate the wisdom and wonder of God’s plan. Take a look at the big, extended picture of God’s calling:
LIFE STORY: Your calling – your unique ministry assignment from God – emerges from the experiences of your Life Story. Everything that has ever happened to you is not a random haphazard collection of events. God has allowed every experience – the good, bad, and ugly – to make you more like Jesus Christ and to prepare you to undertake your assigned task.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: The Holy Spirit indwelt you at the very moment you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior. Among the work of the Spirit is to give you one or more spiritual Gifts – divine power flowing through you that enables you to serve others.
Once you know your primary spiritual gift you have a clear picture of the general assignment God has given to you. If it’s leadership, your task it to lead. If giving, give. If intercession, pray, If mercy, extend compassion – and so on.
AUDIENCE and OUTCOME: But where calling really comes alive is when you focus your Gift to serve an Audience that God has placed on your heart. Your Audience may be a group of people or a social issue that you want to impact for Christ. Moreover, that impact is a specific Outcome that will occur because you have invested your Gift in serving that Audience.
MINISTRY: The last component of Calling is to find your place of Ministry in the Body of Christ. It’s not hard because wherever your Audience tend to be is where your ministry exists. If your Audience is children, work in Sunday School. If your Audience is homelessness, then join a ministry that builds homes for those who could never afford them on their own.
The first step is to prayerfully ask God to reveal to you the components of your calling. As you do, seek counsel from those who are mature believers, and who love unconditionally and know you well. Then step out in faith and watch God work through you to meet needs and solve problems.
© 2013 Designed to Serve®
Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.
