How can I know what my spiritual calling is?

TL;DR:

The Bible defines our spiritual calling as being saved and living for God. That means having an attitude of reverence and love for the Lord, prioritizing His kingdom, discipling others in Christ, and showing God’s love to others.

what does the bible say?

The Bible presents many examples of prophets whom God called for specific purposes, such as leading, warning, and saving His people (Exodus 3:10–12; Jonah 1:1–2; Isaiah 6:8–9; Luke 3:2–3). Besides those whom God called for special service, all believers have a spiritual calling expressed in the pages of Scripture. We’re to manifest reverential fear of the Lord (Ecclesiastes 12:13; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:12). Additionally, no matter what circumstances believers find themselves in, we must prioritize God’s kingdom (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 6:33). The Bible presents historical figures, such as Moses, Daniel, and Esther, who put God’s kingdom above their elevated worldly positions (Esther 4:16; Daniel 6:10; Hebrews 11:24–26). The New Testament emphasizes believers’ duty to disciple others in the truth (Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:3–5). According to the Bible, our spiritual calling includes showing the love of the Lord by helping others (Deuteronomy 15:11; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 25:35–36; Galatians 6:9–10; James 1:27). As the Bible teaches, we all have a spiritual calling.

from the old testament

In Ecclesiastes 12:13, Solomon, a man with wisdom from God who experienced nearly all the world had to offer, expressed this about humankind’s spiritual calling: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

from the new testament

All believers fulfill their spiritual calling when we follow the instructions presented in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus commissions his apostles to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Discipling others isn’t a job just for the apostles or pastors; all Christians are called by Christ to do so.
The apostle James described every Christian’s calling in James 1:27: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Our duty is to love and help others.

implications for today

“Not my job”—ever heard that phrase? Even if we wouldn’t say that to someone, we tend to think of our jobs as having specific duties and forget about the part of the job description that stated, “other duties as assigned.” Everyday Christians, who may not hold the office of pastor, deacon, or even Bible study leader, still have “other duties as assigned,” which Scripture describes. For instance, we’re all called to witness about Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Peter 3:15). This doesn’t just take place at official church events; we have the same opportunity at our jobs, in the line at the grocery store, and during phone calls with a customer service representative. Why wouldn’t we feel pulled to share with others what we have? Our spiritual calling also includes helping others. This means more than just saying, “I’ll pray for you” (though we should always pray for others!). It means bringing a sick brother or sister a meal, driving an elderly parishioner to church on Sundays, and putting some extra money in the donation plate for a stranger whose family home burned down (James 2:14–16). Christians have a spiritual calling to do that which manifests our love for the Lord and the priority we place on His kingdom. As the Bible teaches, we all have spiritual callings that are to be lived out in whatever specific callings God has placed in our lives, such as jobs, situations we face, and relationships we have.

understand

All believers are called to live for God, prioritize His kingdom, and disciple others.
In whatever specific situations we find ourselves, we all have spiritual callings to love God and others.
Living for Christ, discipleship, witnessing, and caring for others are all part of every believer’s calling.

reflect

How are you currently living out your spiritual calling in your specific callings?
How can you embrace your spiritual calling to disciple others or witness about Christ within your current relationships?
How are you actively fulfilling your spiritual calling to show God’s love to others, and how can you deepen your service?

engage

What implications are there for believers living out their spiritual callings?
How can we, as everyday Christians, fulfill our spiritual calling to make disciples in our interactions, even outside of church settings?
What challenges do we face in embracing our spiritual calling to love and help others, and how can we support one another in fulfilling this calling?

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