Latest Devotion
Worthy of the Calling
By: Kim Garrett
Monday, June 1, 2026
As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1
Prior to retirement, my career was evenly split between nursing and education. Both careers gave me many opportunities to demonstrate my love for God and people. In both of those areas, God's calling on my life never shifted; to live a life worthy of His calling. I quickly realized it wasn't about me; God was inviting me to take part in something greater. Though I primarily worked in secular environments, I represented another kingdom—God's kingdom. As a result, I always knew who I was working for. In my mind, both of those careers required a high level of character and integrity, but not everyone agreed.
Over those 36 years, many of my colleagues failed to see the eternal value of their careers; the opportunity to love and serve others wasn't nearly as important as their paycheck. For example, a nurse I worked with struggled with alcohol and drugs when she was off duty. But she also had full access to the drug cart when she was on duty. Eventually, her hidden sin got entangled with her career, and it cost her dearly. She was arrested, charged with medication theft, and her nursing career ended in heartache and shame.
While I was teaching, I had a colleague who liked to brag about her sexual promiscuity in the staff lounge. After I retired, she made the news and was arrested for being sexually involved with an underage student. In both scenarios, their calling (careers) should have beckoned them to a higher standard.
In our world, many people don't understand what God has entrusted them with. When God isn't a priority, people don't always live a life worthy of their calling. But my co-workers didn't just destroy their own lives. Their actions led to public shame and taunting and it devastated their workplaces. Family members and colleagues were heartbroken, and many other people were negatively affected by their immoral behavior.
But Christ followers have a divine calling; we have a higher purpose than the world does. Living a life that is worthy requires intentional focus and an unwavering commitment to obey God's commands. When someone "pushes our buttons" God's Word tells us how to respond; Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people... (Ephesians 6:7). The key to staying true to our calling is never forgetting we are serving God, not people!
With the Holy Spirit's help, our lives will please God, and we'll be living a life worthy of our calling!
Read: Ephesians 4:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.