Your Purpose, Your Call by Paul Scanlon

(Source: City Harvest Church news bulletin, August 23 - 24, 2014)

“We talk a lot about calling in the church world to the point where many who can’t identify a clear call feel like they need one to serve God legitimately.

You don’t need a specific call to serve God – you just need to be willing and available.

The problem is we have made calling more about places and tasks than we have about purpose. This produces questions like where do you feel God is calling you to? Or what do you feel called to do? Or someone says, “I feel called to China or Africa …” which makes the rest of us think we should have a call like that too. Calling is firstly to purpose – which will involve places, tasks, people and positions – but these all change whereas purpose doesn’t.

Sadly, our wrong understanding of calling has produced lots of people in lots of places who felt called there but end up unfruitful and don’t really know what they’re supposed to be doing there. Purpose precedes places.

Abraham was called to a purpose but didn’t know which place he was heading to. He also had some problems with people that he tried to journey with, who though being family, didn’t share his purpose. He separated from them and moved to another place. Though his relationships and location changed, his call or purpose didn’t.

You can do a lot for God and for people without being able to point to a call. Moses wasn’t called until he was 80. Joseph had his dream when he was 17, but his call to rule in Egypt came much later when he was in his early 30’s.

Your pre-called life is not wasted – it is the preparation period for your calling.

Don’t waste another day trying to find your call, just serve where you are and your call will find you. The world needs purpose driven people not call driven people. ”

Paul Scanlon is one of the United Kingdom’s foremost church leaders. Under his leadership, Life Church has become one of the largest and most significant churches in Europe. He is a gifted communicator who imparts the truth of God’s Word in a powerful and insightful way. His heart and vision is to reach as many people as possible, especially the younger generation, to empower them to lead influential lives and fulfill their destiny.

LIFE Church is a vibrant, growing and multi-cultural church. We believe that the Church is the hope of the world and a place where everyone can thrive.