Confirm Your Calling and Election

In 2 Peter 1:10, the Apostle Peter urges believers to be diligent to confirm their calling and election so that they will never stumble. The Apostle Paul likewise writes to the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 4:1), “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Remember, Peter and Paul urge this of believers, not of those who don’t know Christ. Your calling refers to who you are in the body of Christ, and your election refers to your function. God has thoughts for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11). He knows how to use you and me for His glory (Psalm 139:15–16). But what happens if you don’t know your calling? What happens if you don’t know your function in the body of Christ? And how can you walk in a manner worthy of your calling if you don’t know what it is?

We live in a world where an identity crisis is common almost everywhere, even in many Christian communities. I myself was a victim of this deep-rooted issue in my early Christian years, until God brought me to the point where I realized that He has plans for me which only I can fulfill. However, I see this problem in many of my friends. They take on the character and personality of other people to hide their weaknesses and to gain influence in their circle. There are many promises and truths about our identity in the Word of God, yet the life Christians portray is often contrary to them. We try to model ourselves on the movies we watch, or on the popular preacher, personality, or celebrity whom we adore. We are tempted to copy the calling of the popular people in our lives. This was one of the many reasons the Israelites sinned and fell away from God, and many people still stumble today because they want to copy others. One well-known example is the Israelites asking for a king in the Old Testament because they wanted to be like the nations around them. However, we are not made to model ourselves on the world around us, nor are we supposed to compare ourselves with other people.

Identity crisis is prevalent in our societies because people don’t fully realize who they really are. People become sad and intimidated because they don’t have the glamour and possessions that others have. It is important to know who you are and what you really want. When you know who you are, you know who you are not. When you know what you want, you know what you don’t want. This brings harmony and edification to the body of Christ. Therefore, Peter urges believers to be diligent in confirming their calling and election.

If we are not concerned about finding our calling and election, we may never find them, and we will stumble here and there and ultimately end up with a hit-and-trial ministry and life. The majority of Christians say that our calling and election is to preach the gospel. That is absolutely true. But how will you know where and how to do it unless the Holy Spirit reveals it? In his many letters, Paul mentions that he was called to be an apostle of Christ. There is also a story in the book of Acts where the Holy Spirit forbade Paul to go to Asia and instead directed them to Macedonia. Why did the Holy Spirit Himself prevent them if Jesus had commanded His disciples to go to the ends of the earth, preaching the gospel? It is because God knows how to use us best, and He wants us to serve Him according to His perfect will, not our own desires. Therefore, He gave you and me a specific calling, which only you and I can do best. You are most dangerous to the devil when you walk in your calling, so he tries to distract you with worldly affairs and the desires of the flesh.

Now the question comes: how do you diligently confirm your calling and election? There are a couple of ways I have found in the Bible. First, I recommend spending as much time as you can in the presence of God. The best thing we can ever do for ourselves is to stay in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. As you grow in that fellowship, you develop the ability to tune in to His voice and to understand it, because only the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God (1 Corinthians 2:11). Among His many other purposes in dwelling in you, He is there to reveal to you the free gifts of God (1 Corinthians 2:12). He is always ready to guide you, mentor you, and empower you. Second, I suggest prayerfully serving others. As a result, you will get to know who you are and what your abilities, gifts, and role in the body of Christ are.

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