Vocation 1 - Introduction

God works through our callings

I have done some previous posts on vocation, but thought I would spend some more time on it now. To begin, it is helpful to think about the Lord's Prayer. When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we ask God to give us this day our daily bread and he does so through the vocation of the farmer who grows the grain, the miller who grinds it into flour, the baker who makes it into bread. We would add the factory workers who build the tractors, the bankers who advanced the loans, the truck drivers who haul the produce, also the warehouse attendants, the grocery store employees, the lady at the checkout counter, the person who prepared our meal--soon, we have the whole economic system, and God works through each person in the chain to give us our daily bread.

The doctrine of vocation is, among other things, how God works through human beings. He protects us by means of police, soldiers, the legal system, the government (see Romans 13). He brings healing by means of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health-care callings. He teaches us His Word by means of pastors. He brings new life into the world by means of parents.

Luther says that vocations are "masks of God," meaning that God hides himself in ordinary human beings as they carry out their callings. The doctrine of vocation is really just how we can serve and love our neighbor. Consider that you too are a "mask of God" as you carry out your various callings. How is God working through you to bless others?

Romans 13:1-7

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.