Skip to main content

Anchor House Week 13- Job

Trish and I have had this wonderful discussion about the fact that we don't have jobs. I've had jobs before. When you are first starting in a new job it is exciting and you work passionately. Many times there is a shift that occurs. From the get to attitude to the have to attitude, "I have to go to work today." Jobs have the ability to consume our lives because we have our compass pointed in the wrong direction. When we chase a promotion and a paycheck it leads us down an empty path. They may consume us, but they are just a job. 

Trish and I agree, serving God and his people at Anchor House is better described as a calling. We get the chance to live as missionaries right here in our own town. God invites us to serve Him and His people in this very special way. We get to show His love and share the Good News with a local, regional, and global impact.

Jobs can be replaced when the person chooses. You simply decide you want to do something else, quit your job, and apply for a new job. Callings, on the other hand, get replaced when and if God chooses. He placed you there and you are finished when He says you are finished. Jobs are a means to a finite end. Callings are a means to an infinite end (seems like an oxymoron… if it's infinite how can it have an end). Jobs are a "have to do". Callings are a "get to do."

To be clear I am NOT saying you must serve in a ministry or mission to have a calling. I am also not saying all jobs are bad. In fact most aren't. A calling is about serving God and His people. I'm really speaking to purpose.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." - Ephesians 4:1‭-‬7 NIV

It may be that the vocation you have is indeed your calling. It may be that you are already in a place to love others through patience, being gentle, respectful, being a source of unity, and showing Christ's grace. It may be that for you this opportunity is right in front of you and you just need to seize it and shift your job to a calling. 

How do you do that? Surrender. Each day make the decision to put God first. That may mean a daily devotional or scheduled quite time with God. It may be finding a spiritual accountability partner and walking this faith together. It means plugging into a church. For those who haven't yet, it means accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  

Luke records Jesus works in Luke 9:23, *Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" No matter the place of your calling. It's driven by a daily renewal and commitment to follow Jesus.

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Anchor House Week 2: Have a nice forever

The second week at Anchor House concluded with my return to State College of Florida for a very special event. I had the great honor of overseeing the celebration of life services for Robert C Wynn.  Coach Wynn was the first baseball coach and athletic director at then Manatee Junior College. Under his leadership, they won championships, expanded the athletic department by adding other new sports, and were pioneers and champions for women in sport. He was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, coach, teacher, mentor, and friend. The fact is, he built a legacy. However, that legacy wasn’t just what occurred on the baseball field, athletic department, or within his family. It was about people's forever.  Coach Wynn was one of the most passionate soldiers for Jesus I have ever known.  He was more concerned about people's salvation in Jesus than anything else. It was the focal point of all of his relationships and decisions. His unashamed passion for s...

A New Command

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34 NIV I don't know how many times I have read this verse. Today it hit me differently. Part of it jumped off the page. If there's a new commandment, what makes this different than the old ones?  They must have love in them, right? Nine of the ten commandments have "No" or "Not" contained in them. They tell us what we cannot do rather than providing us with positive direction.  This new commandment couldn't be a more drastic change from the ten commandments. Jesus doesn't say don't do this instead He says DO THIS! Jesus could have easily followed the format of the commandments and said don't hate others or don't ignore others. Instead He gave direction and said LOVE others.   This raises the question, what does it mean to love each other as Jesus loved us and how can we do that?  Be blessed and be a blessing Matt Ennis

Bold Like Stephen

I've always admired people who aren't afraid to be bold in their convictions.  It is the kind of boldness that allows them to stand out in the crowd. There is just something different about how these people view and engage the world around them.  The movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portrays a man that exemplifies what I mean by bold.  He was drafted to serve in World War II but refused to bear arms because of religious reasons. Yet, he still managed to receive the Congressional Medal of honor. Without a weapon in his hand, he saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite his objection to violence, he still served his country. Despite his objection to war he found a way to love his neighbor. He was bold.  When I think of bold in the Bible, I think of Stephen. Acts 6:8 says, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen faced opposition to his teachings. Those that opposed his teachings couldn't ...