As a young man I struggled with the idea of going into vocational ministry. My struggle was, I never heard the voice of God, and I did not “feel” worthy of a “call of God” Yet, it seemed to me that going into vocational ministry was the direction God wanted me to head. I desperately wanted to have a vision, or for the Lord to speak to me in “a still small voice!” As I pursued the scripture to understand this mysterious “Call of God” speakers talked about, I was hoping for some type of Pauline experience. Unfortunately, it never came! So how do I know what God wants me to do in life? As I searched through the scripture, one of the key things I learned was that in order to serve the Lord, I must be a “follower of Jesus Christ!” If we are not first of all a follower of Christ, nothing we do in the service of the kingdom will matter. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Paul writes, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.” I learned from these and other passages, that God does not look at “ABILITY” He looks at “AVAILABILITY!” 1 Timothy 3:1 says, He who desires the office of a bishop, desires a good thing.” What is the point of all this? We need to evaluate our hearts and seek to understand what desires the Lord has placed within us. We need to then pursue those desires until and unless the Lord closes the door. Don’t worry about your “feelings,” trust the Lord to give you the ability and open the doors to allow you to do the work He has called you to do.
