Remembering our primary calling

“I am a failure. I have failed the Lord. I have failed the people, and I feel so lost.”

Are you one of the many who have struggled with these thoughts and feelings while living and ministering in a culture that prizes stability, improvement, and performance?

COVID has forced a lot of change in ministries, and particularly hard hit are the missionaries whose lives and ministries were difficult already. Those who are results-driven and find their self-worth and self-identity in their accomplishments may be struggling the most.

So, what is the cure?

Returning to the primary calling on our life, and prizing what is vital!

Let’s look at Mark 3, where the Lord Jesus is selecting and calling his first ministers. “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him” (Mark 3:13 NKJV). Remember that the Lord “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8); we know he has called us in the same way.

Why did Jesus call you?

He wanted you. He knew everything about you—good and bad—and wanted you.

This is more than wanting you in his family; this is him personally selecting you to work for him and represent him in ministry. He wanted you.

Next, notice that those Jesus called came to him. Yes, he wanted them, and yes, he called them–but they had to choose to come. He was on a mountain, so getting to him wasn’t easy! But climbing halfway wouldn’t be enough. If they wanted what Jesus had for them, fully coming to him was the first requirement. In fact, partial commitment would only bring frustration: it would be effort without reward. They needed to be close enough to hear Jesus.

“Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons” (Mark 3:14-15).

Those whom Jesus called responded. On the mountaintop, he appointed them and identified their calling.

He called them to be with him, to preach, and to walk in power.

Was their first and primary call to preach and to fulfill the work of the ministry? To build grand buildings, church groups, or programs? Was it honorable and good things, like feeding children, helping the less fortunate, visiting widows, orphans, the imprisoned, or the elderly?

All of these are noble, just, and godly causes. But none of them are our first calling.

If ministering to the needs of people is not our primary calling, then what is?

To be with God

Our primary call as a minister and as a child of God is our relationship with Jesus.

Notice this is not simply to be in his presence, because the disciples already were. They went nearly everywhere with Jesus.

Many rationalize, “Well, I am saved. I’m a Christian, so he is always with me.” This was true of his disciples as well, yet to them, he essentially invited them further—“From this point forward being with me in living relationship is your first and primary calling” (author’s paraphrase).

If Jesus is to trust you to do anything else for him, our first and primary calling—before and beyond all work of ministry—is to know Jesus intimately.

This is a simple truth, yet difficult to achieve.

Why is that?

Perhaps our other callings have our attention far more than Jesus does. When our accomplishments receive recognition from others, we tend to make that our motivation, rather than the Lord.

Do you know the best thing about our primary calling? We can fulfill it even when we can’t do anything else. We can spend time with him when we cannot preach. We can do his will for our lives when we’re unable to feed others. When visiting is impossible, you know what we can do? Spend time with Jesus and fulfill our first call. When we cannot have group meetings, we can have fellowship with him.

Right now, many in ministry may feel like failures because of what they have not been able to do.

Rather than finding satisfaction in fellowshiping with Jesus, they may have sought joy through their accomplishments and are now pained by lack of progress. Some agonize over feeling they have failed in their calling or failed the Lord and others. All these challenges leave ministers feeling lost, not knowing what they are doing with their life or where they are going. Yet, these callings are secondary.

The great news is this: you can fulfill your primary and most important calling—to know Jesus intimately—right where you are.

You can awaken tomorrow knowing exactly what you’re going to do and where you’re going to go. No longer aimless or lost, you can successfully spend intimate time with Jesus.

Because of COVID, many in Japan have been unable to do the things they’ve wanted and even needed to do. But fulfilling your first and primary call is something you can always do, locked-down or not.

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. (Mark 6:30-32)

The disciples have been so busy in ministry that they have not even had time to eat. So Jesus takes them away to a place where they can do nothing. It is a deserted place. No physical aspect of the ministry can be fulfilled. No groups. No teachings. No visiting. No services. There is no way to do anything because there is nothing there.

How did they end up in this lockdown? COVID? No. Calling!

Jesus called them there. Some may ask, “Why would Jesus remove them from their calling?” He didn’t! He called them deeper into their first and primary calling: to be with him and know him.

Although they already appeared successful, Jesus felt it was important to “quarantine” them in a desert place.

You may be feeling distressed and disillusioned by what you have not been able to do. Maybe you’re feeling lost—as though you’ve lost time, lost momentum, or even lost your way.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

Right now, you can experience eternal life in far greater measure and fulfill your calling all at the same time. Plus, you can do it without ever leaving your home.

As you answer your call to be with Jesus first and foremost, you will find you are better equipped with far more wisdom, far more resources, and a far better attitude to handle the people, the problems, and the work of the ministry.

Today you can hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”—not by fulfilling the work of ministry, but by fulfilling your primary calling in life and ministry: to be with Jesus and know him more intimately than you have ever known anyone before.