A couple of generations ago in our land, most people assumed there were three callings. That is, back then most people thought God called certain young men to be medical doctors, certain young men to be ordained ministers, and certain young people to be teachers. One could speak about sensing God’s call to enter medicine, ministry, or teaching, and others would not give the one claiming a calling a funny look.

Since then, the idea of God’s calling has been broadened to include many other vocations. That should have happened, because our Lord has many different vocations for many different people. After all, God is not interested only in medicine, ministry, and education. God is also interested in marriage, family life, government, services, entertainment, construction, and on and on.

When considering God’s call to each of us, it is easy to think: "Well, God has called me to this pursuit; so, since I am divinely called, I can sit back, expect God’s favor to come to me, and take it easy." That is not true.

When God calls a person to a particular vocation, that means God gives that person a new set of responsibilities -- that can be met with God’s help. God’s calling to a person is indeed a gift from God. But God’s calling brings the called person to work, to strive, to sacrifice, to risk, to reach.

For example, consider a young woman who senses God’s call to become a painter. Rejoicing in the call, this young woman does not then walk into her living room, flip on the television set, and watch countless programs for the next fifteen years. Instead, rejoicing in the call, she gets all the art education that she can; she finds a master painter from whom she can learn; she sacrifices time, money, and much more to practice on the canvas; she continues to paint every chance she gets; and slowly but surely, she becomes an accomplished painter. God’s calling comes first; then comes purposeful and graceful, not aimless, living.

When we sense God calling us to a vocation, we are wise to dedicate ourselves to that vocation. Studying all we can, we should learn about it. We should practice it. We should be there in the midst of the vocation. We should do what we are supposed to do, again and again, even if sacrifices are required. We should think about it from different angles. We should try new approaches. We should remain constructive and engaged, even when we fail along the way. Again, God’s call comes first; then, relying on God’s grace, we respond to the call to the best of our ability.

In the Old Testament, God called Israel to be separate from the nations so that they could point the nations to the one, true God. However, God’s first-chosen people too often believed that God’s call entitled them only to divine benefits and favors. When this was their basic belief, they had forgotten their true calling. They had forgotten the responsibility to witness that came with their calling.

God’s calling does not dump advantages and benefits into the lives of those called. God’s calling does not wipe out personal responsibility. Instead, God’s calling awards new responsibilities to the person so called.

Are you called to run a business? Then you best learn how to work with people. Are you called to be a teacher? Then patience and imagination must be developed. Are you called to be a mother? Then the abilities to listen, lead, and correct will need to acquired. Are you called to be an officer in the church? Then perseverance and leadership will become necessary.