QUESTION: I am a Christian who is about to graduate and, hopefully, obtain work in the area for which my education has prepared me. How can I be sure that I am doing what God wants me to do?
ANSWER: Your question is an encouragement to me. So many Christians today forget that we are here in this world, first of all, to serve the living and true God, and, secondly, to wait for His Son from heaven (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
In order for you to be sure that you are doing what God wants you to do you must be honestly open to God's leading and guiding in your life. This will not take place all at once. At this point it sounds like you have already decided upon a career. If this is so, you should continue to follow this career providing that you can serve and glorify the Lord Jesus in it.
At the same time, you need to be in prayer that the Lord will make clear to you His plan and purpose for your life. I believe this will gradually become apparent to you as you study the Bible and are obedient to the truths that you learn from God's Word.
In the Bible we are told to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God (Romans 12:1,2). As God's love and mercy are realized by us, we will then say with the apostle Paul, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6; 22:10). When Paul's question becomes the prayer of your heart and the goal of your life, several things will begin to take place in your life. Here are a few of them:
1. You will become increasingly concerned with the spiritual needs of others.
2. You will, with the Lord's help, begin to meet some of these needs.
3. You will recognize certain areas in which the Lord seems to be using you. This may be confirmed to you by blessing and encouragement from godly believers.
4. You will have an inward peace and joy in the Lord.
Most Christians are able to serve the Lord in the way described above without changing their present employment. It is important to notice that service for the Lord usually begins right in the place where we are--in the home, neighborhood, school, at work, and in the local assembly. That is where we will find the needs and that is where the Lord will use and develop our gift. Later on, the Lord may lead some to travel to other places as evangelists, shepherds, or teachers. But, right where we are is where the Lord would have us begin.
Sometimes the question of where we should work becomes as important as what we should do. In this, again, we need the Lord's guidance. Because Christians need the fellowship of one another to grow, I believe that in most cases the Lord would lead us to locate near a local assembly or gathering of believers.
--John D. McNeil
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1,2).
Other Articles in This Pamphlet:
