Each of us is called to proclaim God’s Word in the world. Some of us as full-time preachers and pastors. Others as ordinary people. Some through words and others through actions. The fact remains that each of is called to convey God to the world. The world needs Him very much.

This is a major assignment that we’ve been given. It’s a pity so few know about it and that many who know about it forget to do it. I suspect that’s why the world is without God. Because so many of us are silent about our Saviour. A world without God is chaos and when I look around, it seems this is true in many places.

Fortunately, Paul did not ignore his calling. He said: ¹¹This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher.

What would’ve happened to us if Paul, like most of us, had turned a blind eye to his calling? Where would we have heard about Jesus? Who would’ve given us guidelines for life? Where would we have read about God’s love for us poor humans?

Thank goodness Paul was faithful to his calling. Through thick and thin. Yes, through thick and thin. ¹²It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets.

I take my hat off to Paul. He’s such a great example to all of us. The circumstances in which he found himself were not that rosy. He wasn’t sitting in his slippers all warm and cosy behind his desk. He didn’t have a big screen and keyboard to write his letters.

Paul found himself in the most appalling circumstances. It wasn’t nice. It was cold. He was hungry. He was shouted at. He was tortured. But even more than that, his life was at risk. There was a sword over his head all the time. Be he did not stop preaching. His calling drove him.

Yes, he might have wondered at times whether it was all worth it. Times when doubt crept into his heart. But then he got up again and trusted in God. God was too much of a reality in his life to give up.

I wonder how I would’ve reacted in circumstances like these? Would I have given up? Would I have surrendered, hung up my faith in God, and walked away?

Are you prepared to give up your job because you will not be silent about your God? Am I prepared to give up my loved ones to go and live my calling to proclaim God’s Word in the world? Are you and I prepared to go to prison, to be humiliated and rejected, stripped of everything we have?

Most of us don’t actually have to respond to these questions, because we will never be subjected to such conditions. Our lives are not in danger when we live our calling.

You are called. Live your calling right there where you are.

Scripture
2 Tim 1:11-12

Reflection
What is your calling?
Do you live it?
Do others experience it?

Prayer
Lord, it’s a privilege to talk about your deeds of salvation. I know it is my calling too. Please make me as bold as Paul to talk about it whenever it’s possible – and impossible too. Amen.