You Are Called

When someone says, “He has a call on his life,” or “She’s called to ministry,” where does your mind go?

Most of us immediately think: pastor, worship leader, missionary. But what if that definition is far too small? What if calling isn’t limited to a pulpit or a worship stage — but woven into every life, every gift, and every place where God has positioned His people?

The truth is, the Bible paints a much bigger picture of calling than we often imagine.

Created for a Purpose

Ephesians 2:8–10 tells us:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Most of us stop at verses 8–9 and celebrate salvation by grace. But verse 10 completes the thought — we are created to do.

God didn’t just save us from something; He saved us for something. Before we were born, He prepared good works for us to walk in (Psalm 139:16). There’s a divine purpose written into every life — not just those in “full-time ministry,” but in every sphere of influence: business, education, art, medicine, government, family, and beyond.

Our Food Is to Do His Will

Jesus said in John 4:34,

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”

He later said, “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.”

That means our nourishment — what sustains and energizes us — comes from doing the work God designed uniquely for us.

A Parable of Calling Beyond the Church

There was once a man who had built a successful business. His name was Ethan. After many years of hard work, he had provided well for his family. His wife and children lacked nothing, and by every measure, he had achieved what most would call a full and prosperous life.

One day, Ethan turned to a friend who served in ministry and said,

“I’ve worked tirelessly for three decades. My family is secure, my future is provided for. Tell me, why should I keep working the next ten years as hard as I did the last thirty?”

The friend paused, sensing the weight of the question. He whispered a prayer for wisdom, and the Spirit of God stirred his heart with this reply:

“Ethan, every child of God carries a divine calling — not only pastors or missionaries. Each one is entrusted with gifts from heaven, supernatural abilities meant to build God’s kingdom. We can use them for ourselves, for His glory, or we can bury them and do nothing at all. The problem isn’t that you don’t have a calling — it’s that you’ve seen mine, but not yet discovered yours.”

Ethan sat quietly, pondering those words. He had long admired the visible gifts of others — preaching, teaching, leading — yet had never considered that his skill in business could be sacred too. His work, his creativity, his leadership — all of it was holy ground when yielded to God.

Scripture says, “The parts of the body that seem weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12:22). Ethan’s calling in the marketplace was no less valuable than that of the preacher or the missionary; it was simply unseen.

Months passed. Then one day, the friend received a message from Ethan: “Your words have stayed with me. I couldn’t shake them. They awakened something in me.”

Ethan had gathered a few like-minded believers and launched a new company — one built on integrity, generosity, and purpose. The business thrived, but more importantly, so did its impact. Many lives were touched through it.

And so, the man who once wondered “why work?” discovered why he was made.

Gifts that Go Beyond the Church Walls

The vast majority of the gifts God gives don’t operate inside the church building — they’re meant to shine outside it. Romans 12 lists some of them: service, teaching, leadership, encouragement, generosity. But they’re not limited to that list. God empowers engineers, designers, educators, nurses, care givers, and entrepreneurs — every vocation is holy ground when surrendered to Him.

Whether your skill is negotiating contracts, designing products, or leading teams, those abilities are grace gifts — supernatural capacities from God.

The Greek word charisma (gift) comes from charis (grace), meaning “a specific expression of grace.” Grace doesn’t just forgive our sins; it empowers us to do what we could never do in our own strength.

Multiplying, Not Maintaining

Too many believers think grace only saves them, not that it equips them. Romans 5:2 says we have access by faith into this grace. If we don’t understand grace as empowerment, we miss the very thing that enables us to live out our callings.

Jesus warned that the servant who merely maintains what he’s been given loses even that (Matthew 25:29). But the one who multiplies his gifts brings increase to the Kingdom.

Imagine if every believer — in every industry — lived aware of the gifts of God within them. The early church didn’t multiply until everyone began using their gifts (Acts 6). When believers in everyday roles engaged their calling, “the number of disciples multiplied greatly.”

You Are His Workmanship

Your calling isn’t defined by your job title but by your obedience to God’s design for you. Whether you’re a teacher, nurse, engineer, parent, artist, child care provider, or CEO — you carry the light of Christ into that space. Your “ministry” begins where your feet are.

And the beautiful truth? You already have what you need. The gifts God gives are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). He doesn’t take them back, even when we fail to use them or use them wrongly. Consider King Saul: even after he turned from God, was tormented, and acted out of jealousy and pride, his prophetic gift remained. It was never withdrawn.

But that truth also carries a sober reminder: the gifts entrusted to us can either build God’s Kingdom or serve another master. The choice is ours.

And here's the hope: the same grace that saved you also empowers you. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. You are His workmanship, and His masterpiece, created for good works prepared long before you ever took your first breath.

Live the Calling

So don’t limit calling to the church stage. You are called, right where you are. Your gifts, your work, your influence, they’re all sacred when offered to God. As you walk in your calling, the Kingdom advances, not by addition but by multiplication.

Let’s be the generation that awakens to the gifts within us — and uses them boldly for His glory.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

A Prayer for Your Calling

Father, thank You for calling me. Not just to believe, but to build, to serve, and to shine Your light in the place You’ve planted me.

Open my eyes to see the gifts You’ve placed within me and teach me how to use them for Your glory.

Forgive me for the times I’ve separated the sacred from the ordinary. Empower me by Your grace to walk boldly in the purpose You prepared for me before I was born.

May my life be a reflection of Your workmanship: full of faith, fruit, and faithfulness.

In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

This post was inspired by John Bevere’s powerful message, “You Are Called,” from his Messenger Studio Podcast: Watch it here.