The Call Part 3

A long time ago, in a land far away, there was a man who was (by all accounts) short and fairly ugly.  God, who is no respecter of persons, saved this man’s soul in 1785.  The man, out of gratitude, thought that he should give up what had been his calling and follow God in “full time ministry.”  He had been very active and effective in politics prior to his conversion.  Fortunately, a minister named John Newton (the author of the song Amazing Grace) convinced him that he should consider the possibility that he had been raised up for the good of the nation of England.  After much prayer and thought, he decided that Newton was correct and sought God for what He would have him do.  The man’s name is William Wilberforce and after much prayer he stated that “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners.”  Manners in modern language would translate to habits, attitudes, and morals.  Wilberforce is not well known but he sought God and he changed the world.  He was the driving force that eliminated slavery in England.  He had enough success in the reformation of habits, attitudes, and morals that some historians credit him with saving England from the violent ends found in the French revolution.  He was called by some the “Washington of humanity.”  The odds against him were staggering.  He was not a member of a mainstream church.  He was a member of the evangelicalism movement.  The slave trade was accepted almost without question as an acceptable and essential part of the economy of his nation.  He was opposed by the royal family, those in political power, those with money, and national heroes such as Lord Nelson both at home and in the colonies.  He was physically assaulted and one of his friends said, “I shall expect to read of you carbonadoed (sliced and roasted) by West Indian planters, barbecued by African merchants and eaten by Guinea captains, but do not be daunted, for – I will write your epitaph!”  Wilberforce worked 50 years before he accomplished his goals.  

Guinness says that “Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything thing we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service”

Wilberforce clearly heard the call, knew his life purpose, and lived it.

Guinness outlines 4 points;

1. Calling has a simple meaning.  Someone is calling and someone is called.  There is a speaker and a hearer.


2. Calling by God is a creative force.  He calls and enables so we can become what He calls us to be.


3. We are called out of the world to be followers of His


4. The call is no casual suggestion but to a living sacrifice for each of us in all our lives.

Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him, and for Him.
Our secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere, and in everything should think, speak, live, and act entirely for Him.  

Our work, whatever it is, becomes a secondary calling and is sanctified (set apart by God for His purposes) as we pursue our primary calling to God.  Remember to hold the two callings together and in the proper order.