Chosen Instrument

Jimi Hendrix, Monterey Pop Festival, 1967
Photo by Jim Marshall

Recently I was conversing with Jesus about the calling of Saul (Paul) of Tarsus. After Paul’s conversion experience on the Damascus Road, Jesus instructs an understandably cautious Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles…” (Acts 9:15). I confessed to Jesus that I’d like to be his “chosen instrument” for something (despite the fact that Jesus’ next line about Paul is, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name”!). I wondered about the nature of a calling. Are we indeed called to something specific? And, if so, can we resist and/or miss our calling? But mostly I just wanted to be Jesus' chosen instrument for something.

After sitting in silence with Jesus, his response emerged: “You are my chosen instrument to be Robert.”

So the answer is yes, we are called to something specific. And yes, we can resist and miss our calling. When we don’t become ourselves—through pretending, numbing ourselves, aimlessly wandering, ignoring God’s leading, etc.—we are missing our calling…the calling to be ourselves fully alive. You are Jesus’ chosen instrument to be you. What does that look like, you fully alive? It’s a unique and powerful calling…one that no one else on earth can answer.