The calling

I am preparing for a message about how we find our calling in life. How do we discover what the purpose is for our life?

During this message I want to look at several people from the bible and discover how they found their calling in life. In order to see if we may be able to learn something from them.

The first person I wanted to look at is Joseph. His story can be found in Genesis chapters 37-to preaty much the end of the book.

early in josephs life he recieves a dream from GOD that reveals that he would reighn over his family some day. needless to say his brothers were not real found of this. it probably did not help that Joseph was excited about the calling he had discovered.

as the story develops Joseph life seems to go anyway but what the calling suggested. and even when the calling is realized Joseph discovers the calling is so much more than he origionally thought.

Joseph life spirals out of control when his brothers conspire to kill him because of envy. One brother decides that they probably sould not kill him. so the sell him into slavery. From there Joseph is sent to egypt.

so joseph has suffered a great betrayal by the ones who are suppose to love him most. It is easy when we read a story such as this to seperate ourselves from how Joseph must have felt. This had to rip his heart right out. I am sure it made him mad, confused, sad, etc.

from there Joseph is sexually harrassed by his masters wife. In an attempt to do what is right he is framed and accused of trying to rape her. He is then thrown in jail, and more pain is added to the life of Joseph.

joseph is thn betrayed by a man he helps get out of jail. the man forgets to mention that Joseph should be released to and thus Joseph is left to rot in jail. I am thinking that Joseph is probably really wondering what happen to his calling. why does his life suck so much?

then one day the ruler of egypt has a dream. joseph who is able to interpret dreams through GOD's help is summoned. he tells the ruler that seven years of good harvest are coming after that seven years of famine are coming. He advices the ruler to store up food during the years of pleanty so that they can survive the years of famine.

the ruler like joseph so much that he placed him in charge of the whole thing. one day his brothers were sent to egypt to ask for food because the famine was so bad.
Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

long story short one day he reveals to his brothers who he is. but rather than revenge he offers forgiveness to them. it is important to realize that this was a healing moment for Joseph. and it was not easy. but it lead him to the fulfillment of his calling.

here is what the bible says happened. " then Joseph could not refrain himself before all the people and he cried. he asked everyman to leave, and there he stood alone with his brothers to make himself known to them. and he wept aload and the egyptians could hear it and joseph said to his brothers "I am joseph, does my father still live?" and his brothers were silencesd and troubled by his presence.
and joseph said to his brothers, come close to me. "do not be grieved or angry, you sold me into slavery, GOD has sent me here to preserve your lives."

soemtimes are calling is found in healing from our wounds. soemthing to notice is in order to heal we must let the pain out. we need to talk about it and cry. just cry. we cannot keep the pain inside or it will destroy us. we must give our wounds to GOD and ask him to heal us. then comes the second part, we must follow GOD as he directs us because he knows the pathway to our healing. Joseph needed to forgive his brothers and he did.

he came to realize that his calling was found in healing from his wounds. he also discovered that his calling was not about ruling over his brothers, it was about loving and caring for them. Joseph knew the importance of love and the effects of being denied it. he had been battered and bruised. and as he healed he gained the calling and power to answer his calling. a calling to be one force in this world that will fight the evil that batters and bruises us by being a force of love who cares and provides, and loves us. his calling was to be a source of life in a world of pain. this calling was found in the healing of his wounds.

I know some of my readers are hurting alot. GOD has a great calling for you. lets heal together so we may be free. the next step is the most important as you seek your calling. our calling is found in GOD, because he is our healer. so make your next step one's that lead to him.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr