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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

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