The Discovery: Exploring God’s Call On Your Life Sample

“The Responsibility: How do I stay content?”

The Bible tells us about Jesus’ birth, the events that immediately followed, and an incident in the temple when Jesus was a pre-teen, but we find little about the events of His life between his birth and the time of Jesus’ formal public ministry in Scripture.

We know only that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). Most of us ignore this period of Jesus’ life altogether, assuming that it is unimportant simply because we know nothing about it. However, Jesus’ years as a carpenter were just as important as any others that Jesus spent on earth.

Carpentry isn’t as awe-inspiring as performing miracles or the raising the dead, but it was just as much a God-given assignment as His formal ministry, and Jesus remained obedient and faithful throughout, taking advantage of the opportunity to mature and grow. Each day, Jesus was responsible to follow the Father’s leadership and to fulfill the calling of that single day. Some days were private preparation and some days public proclamation, but each day was important to God.

No matter what your current assignment, it is just as important that you remain faithful, obedient, and enthusiastic in your spiritual growth now as it will be during any future assignment that God gives you. You must remain open to God’s guidance, even when you perceive His direction to be a detour from where you think you are going. Remember, you are called to Jesus, not a position, responsibility, or a title, and the rhythm of God is different in the life of each believer. Be content and flexible enough to follow wherever He leads, taking advantage of every opportunity to grow, learn, and build relationships, trusting Him enough not to depend on what you know, but on who He is. Your being faithful to study and prepare now will be very important in the years to come.

Respond to the following in your journal:

What did you learn through Bible study today?

How were you encouraged? How were you challenged?