How Do I KNOW What I'm Called to Do?
Episode 12
We're all commanded (and therefor called) to present our bodies as a living sacrifice in Romans 12. But what does that look like, and how do we do it? Come find some answers to the question, what is God calling you to do?
Show Notes
Tagline of this show: Answering God’s call in the second half of life. But, how do I know I have a call? How do I know what am I called to do?
It’s easy to feel disqualified in serving God as we enter the latter days of our lives. Failures. Mistakes. Bad decisions. But even my broken, messy, self must still obey Jesus’s call that Paul shares in Romans 12.
Romans 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
We’ve talked about our old bodies for many of the last episodes.
Episode 5: curing bitter hearts
Episode 6: strengthening weak knees
Episode 7: lifting drooping hands
Episodes 9 & 10: helping our eyes and improving our spiritual sight.
Here’s a picture:
Olive trees produce better fruit with age. The trees we saw in Israel at the Garden of Gethsemane that are estimated to be 900 years old.
Here’s an article about all the spiritual pictures from the olive tree.
Presenting my old body to Jesus as a sacrifice, for whatever He has for me in the days ahead. THAT IS answering His call. It’s my decision and my obligation.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
No age limit
There’s no disqualification because of wrinkles, or creping, or extra weight around the middle.
Nothing in here about being “good enough” to be be presentable
I was bought with the blood of Jesus. I’m his.
Philippians 1:20-25
20- ... with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
21- For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22- If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. ...
Fruitful labor: presenting myself as sacrifice is exactly where that fruitful labor comes from. So, back to the original question: What your labor in this time of life should be?
I think we all have a call to service. It will flow in many places, one of which is our family. But I also think that as our kids leave the house and new time opens to us and there are fewer immediate needs to meet, we need to find places to PRESENT OUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE.
Romans 12:1-2 from THE MESSAGE:
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.
GREAT. You might say. But WHAT exactly am I supposed to do? We find the answers in Romans 12:9-21.
Romans 12:9-21
9 Let love be genuine.
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope,
be patient in tribulation,
be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and
seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Same Kind of Different As Me
Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (EPISODE 5)
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, ...
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We don’t age out of this.
Philippians 1:22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
Join me. Let’s present our old bodies in holy worship and service to Jesus. And serve the Lord. He’s just waiting for us to ask how. He doesn’t need us all to have massive ministries. He wants us all to join Him, give Him our life, and serve Him in small ways to those around us.
Think of the impact of an army of empty-nest Moms presenting themselves as a living sacrifice! Let’s stop thinking about it and DO IT!
If you get an idea, please share it below. I’d love to hear how Jesus moves you to fruitful labor.