Sunday, November 20, 2011

Trying to discern God’s call for your life can be as simple as having a conviction to serve. It can also be a long roller-coaster ride of spiritual high points and failures. I hope that the story of my calling will encourage you that God can work through all kinds of situations to bring about His will for us.

I started playing drums for my youth group in middle school, mostly so I could play with another band. But in my sophomore year the student worship leader left for college, and it seemed like people looked to me, as the worship pastor’s son, to step up. The call to ministry had been thrust upon me. So I learned guitar and began to “talk shop” with my dad about what this worship leading thing was all about. I led throughout my time at home, sometimes with deep passion, sometimes with hypocrisy as I lived my life outside of church focusing on selfish and worldly motives; but I had accepted that this was the call on my life, to see the glory of God proclaimed.

I went to a Christian university to get more training. During my time there I became distracted from my calling and started to pursue modern musical composition as a means to gain acceptance and prestige in the academic world. I still played on worship teams for the chapel program and ended up co- leading a group. It was through these responsibilities and some deep relationships with other people pursuing Christ that I began to see my own selfish motives and that I wouldn’t have a very large impact for the glory of God. If I were to lead God’s people in seeing and singing His glory and praises, however, I might by the grace of God be used by Him to advance His kingdom and encourage those who worship with me.

At different points in my walk my calling has been confirmed by others, and I find that this only happens when I have been faithful to strive to be who God has called me to be both in Christ and in ministry. When I have taken my eyes off Him there inevitably comes doubt and a second guessing as to what I’m supposed to be doing. God has been faithful to renew my spirit and my call every time.

While here at Calvary East I have been given the opportunity to serve in different capacities with many devoted people, and have seen God’s faithfulness to work in and through me (sometimes in spite of me) and through others. There’s a lot of life ahead of me. Though I don’t know exactly what capacity my long-term calling will take I know one thing for certain— I am to devote my life to the service of the church for the glory of God.

- Jared Ransom