2. Jesus calls me to work with him so that I will take on his character and values.
(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.)
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEA THAT JESUS IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING IN YOU THAN WHAT HE IS DOING THROUGH YOU?
WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES AND HINDERANCES THAT KEEP YOU FROM BECOMING THE PERSON GOD CREATED YOU TO BE?
WHAT INTERNAL DESIRES, ATTITUDES, HABITS, AND WEAKNESSES KEEP YOU FROM EXPERIENCING AN INTIMATE AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
WHAT AREAS OF GROWTH ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT WOULD MAKE YOUR CONNECTION TO GOD STRONGER, DEEPER, AND BETTER?
When we sense that Jesus is calling us to a particular vocation, which could simply be our job, or a career, or even a religious calling to a ministry, what we are most aware of is what we are called to do. But Jesus’s call is often about what he wants to do in us rather than what he wants to do through us.
When we make the outcomes of our work the priority, we risk falling into many destructive traps. First, focusing on the goal of our work can make us seem more important to ourselves than we really are. We may begin to see ourselves as indispensable. Second, prioritizing outcomes can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and potential failure. Third, when the goal of our work becomes too important, we risk hurting the people and relationships that are included in our work.
All too often, highly “successful people” leave a trail of broken relationships. Finally, over-emphasizing outcomes can be a way of distracting ourselves from seeing our limitations and our need for growth. Jesus says that he came so that we might experience an abundant life, but it seems that we are all woefully unprepared to experience this abundance. Our souls, crippled by the events and messages of our culture, need transformation. Jesus was the person most capable of experiencing the abundance God desires for us.
Jesus invites us to do things with him so that, as we spend time with Jesus, we begin to take on his character and qualities When this happens, we are better able to realize this potential goodness he makes available to us. Jesus loves being with us. He calls us into things that we can do together so that we can be with him. But he also desires abundance for us. His call is not only to be in an abiding relationship with him, but also to be changed and transformed into his character, the character we need to experience this abundance.
Working with Jesus brings great opportunity, a growing intimacy in our relationship, and a developing transformation of our character. But we will miss this opportunity unless we recognize and prioritize these internal outcomes over the external outcomes of the work we are engaged in.