The Three Callings of Life
Rev. Johnny Wang
The First Calling: From Death to Life. “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,” (Ephesians 2:1 NKJV) “…those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, …” I Corinthians 1:2)
1. This is the calling to life and a decision to choose life.
2. Life should be the precursor to existence and humanity must choose life over existence.
3. If a person does not choose life, he is merely existing much like a “dead man walking”. Human existence is utterly meanlingless.
The Second Calling: Commitment for Life. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1) “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8)
1. Life has a purpose. That purpose is to be used by God. “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)
2. This is for an individual to serve God wherever he or she is.
The Third Calling: To a Vocational Ministry. “…Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4:21-22) This is the call of Jesus of his disciples.
1. God is still in the business of calling His people to the vocational ministry.
2. The first two calling must precede the third and it is God’s prerogative to call and we are to be obedient to His calling. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit…” (John 15:16)
When we choose to respond to God’s calling, we need to observe the following principles:
1. We need to glorify God in our decision. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31) This is because our life is from God.
2. We respond not because it is for our own benefit. “…For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, …” (I Corinthians 10:33) This is God’s will for us: We live to serve Him, to live for Him and to serve others, not to be served by others.
3. We respond for the greater good of others. “…I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (I Corinthians 10:33). We serve just as Jesus served, to give life to others. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
人生中有三種不同的呼召
王其昌牧師
第一種：出死入生的呼召. 「你們死在過犯罪惡之中，祂叫你們活過來.」（弗2：1） 「在基督耶穌?成聖，䝉召作聖徒的.」（林前1：2）
1. 這是屬於生命上的呼召及選擇.
2. 生命必須行在生活之先，故人必須先在生命上作選擇.
3. 一個人若在生命上不作選擇，只是在地上過生活，猶如行屍走肉，是完全沒有意義的.
第二種：生活奉獻的呼召. 「所以弟兄們，我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是神所喜悅的，你們如此事奉，乃是理所當然的.」（羅12：1） 「我們若活著，是為主而活.」（羅14：8）
1.生命的存在是有其目的，此目的是要譲造我們的神使用. 「我為主被囚的勸你們，既然䝉召，行事為人就當與䝉召的恩相稱.」（弗4：1）
2. 這是一種在個人崗位上的事奉，不論你的崗位為何.
第三種：全職事奉的呼召. 「…耶穌就呼召他們，他們立刻捨了船，別了父親，跟從了耶穌.」（太4：21，22）這是耶穌之門徒們的䝉召經歷.
4. 今天神仍然從不同崗位上的人中呼召他們出來全職事奉神.
1. 前二種的呼召是必有的，但是第三種的呼召則要神來為我們作主，然後我們順服跟從. 因為主說：「不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，並且分派你們去結果子….」（約15：16）
在選擇時要留意三個原則：
1.為 要榮耀神. 「無論作什麼都要為榮耀神而行.」（林前10：31）因為生命是由神而來的.
2. 不求自己的益處. 「…像好像我（保羅）凡事都叫衆人喜歡，不求自己的益處.」（林前10：33） 這是神的旨意：我們生存的意義在乎被神使用，為神為人而活，不是要受人的服事.
3. 要求衆人的益處. 「…只求衆人的益處，叫他們得救.」（林前10：33） 我們要服事人，像主留下給我們的榜樣，使人也得生命（參：可10：45）
