Considering this discussion post, I will start with the last question first
because I find it one of the most important. Absolutely, I think that you
should question God's call on your life to ministry since the calling to
teach comes with a heavy price. "James warns us, "Let not many of you
become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a
stricter judgment" (James 3:1). And the author of Hebrews tells us, "Obey
your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as
those who will give an account" (Heb. 13:17). We dare not take up this
task without a sense of gravity, seriousness, and consequence."[1]00When
God called me into ministry, James 3:1 stuck in my head, and it took some
time to determine that I was ready to live at a higher standard and
expectation. I knew God's expectations, and now that I am an example to
others, I do not want to lead astray.
In reading the introductory section, my calling to Military Chaplaincy
started much like Allen mentions in the text, "I think God is calling me to
ministry."[2]00Along with the thought that he was calling me, I wanted to
argue why he should call someone else. 0First of all, I am a woman, and I
grew in a Church that women do not serve in the capacity I now serve.
Second, I am a single mom; I thought I should be married first. As I
discerned my call over the next year, through any sleepless nights and a
lot of prayers, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am exactly where
God wants me to be, doing his work. I did not go through a series of
formal questions as found in the book, nor did I have much support from
my Church; if anything, the Church was a hindrance. 0
As time has passed, I went from hesitation to being on fire for Christ as
"Charles Spurgeon said, "The first sign of the heavenly calling is an
intense, all-absorbing desire for the work. In order to be a true call to the
ministry, there must be an irresistible, overwhelming craving and raging
thirst for telling to others what God has done to our own souls."[3]0There
is nothing I would instead do than serve the Lord in this capacity.
word count 3960
[1]0Jason K Allen (2019). (p. 62).0Discerning Your Call to Ministry: How to
Know for Sure and What to Do about It.Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com
[2]0Ibid p.17
[3]0Ibid p.31
