During a pressing need to sound spiritual among other spiritually knowledgeable people, i’ve used the word “purpose”, as in praying out loud, “Lord, help us that we would be more involved with your purposes.” But, here lately, the Lord has been addressing my little, undersized ideas of what i think He means versus what He really means, thereby giving me clarity on how my perception of Him needs a course change. Sometimes, it’s only a course change in small amounts, and other times it requires i shift my weight all together.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” That’s according to God’s will, which includes His preferences and standards. And YES, we can know His will. In fact, there are several places where scripture says, “and this is the will of God…”
What was Paul referring to there in Romans 8:28 when he uses the phrase “the called” and then uses the word “purpose”? From God’s perspective, what does He mean? And i ask that because the Greek word in Romans 8:28 translated “called” is a different word than “called” in Romans 8:30, and is different again from “called” in Ephesians 4:4. Don’t take my word for it, look it up and do a deep dive to understand. What do you make of that? In the mean time, ponder on this as to the nuanced differences: Romans 8:28: called is in a descriptive identifier of believers enjoying God’s providence. Called in Romans 8:30: as a saving summons. And called in Ephesians 4:4: which is more identifying some believers whom God gives a vocational summons and designation.
Those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior are referred to as “the called.” In Matthew 22:14, Jesus teaches that many are called—in the sense of being invited to the King’s feast—but few are chosen. Only those who respond properly and fully embrace the King’s provision are accepted at the table.
There is a meaningful distinction between the general “calling” (invitation) in Matthew 22 and the specific designation of “the called” in Ephesians 4. Furthermore, while all believers are Christians, God specially designates and equips certain individuals for a particular vocation, as described in Ephesians 4:11. I find no biblical support for viewing these individuals as holding formal “offices,” but abundant support for seeing them as gifts from Christ to His Church—people who walk in a divine calling and vocation.
I see it this way: the day I accepted Christ became my “naming day”—just as Adam named the animals and they were defined, so we too are named and defined when we answer God’s call. To accept that call is to be set apart for a higher purpose than our own.
The word “purpose” (Greek: prothesis) literally means “to set something before” our hearts and eyes, much like the showbread was placed before the Lord in the tabernacle. See Romans 9:11 or Ephesians 3:11. It shares the same root as our word “thesis”—a statement or proposition that is put forward to be upheld and proven. God’s “prothesis” is not just a vague wish — it is a firm, declared intention that He has set forth and is committed to fulfilling. God’s use of the word purpose, “prothesis” is both a resolved decision and a call to action, blending the idea of intention, presentation, and sustenance. Isn’t that interesting!!
I used to think of purpose as something already resolved or decided. But in Scripture, God’s purpose is both a divine conclusion and a call to action. It is drawn from His heart, aligned with His standards, and presented to us as a resolution we are now commissioned to carry out. In short, purpose is a God-given conclusion and resolution to a matter that demands we take action to accomplish. Did you hear that? A “conclusion and resolution of a dilemma that we take action to accomplish.”
We are “the called” because we have a new purpose after we have received the invitation of God to join Him in His works, gladly stepping into our place in the Kingdom. We are named and designated by God and we hold His preferences and standards in front of us to accomplish with all our breathing, and thinking, all our feeling, and strength. All, not just 10% as a minimal tithe, but all. We bide our time, patiently, with full expectation, trusting and knowing the Lord will do all He says. The word “wait” in Romans 8:25 is a “now” word as a statement of fact in real time. Now, now, now, and never becomes “then” until the end of all things, which exclusively conclude at His feet. All my days are before the Lord, and all my days will conclude at His feet, regardless of if i like it or not.
Seeing as how we are the ones named and designated by God, the called, who hold His preferences and standards in front of us to govern all we think and do, His purposes, and seeing as how we know all things conclude at His feet no matter how we cut the pie … knowing these things, how will we walk out our days, knowing every moment and every split second of our lives will ultimately rest before the great high King of Heaven? Oh, and you know there is a difference between God’s plans and God’s purposes, right? There are the nuances between the overarching “why” (purpose) and the specific “how” or steps (plan). Can we really, truly, actually, actually, continue to ignore the call, the pressing invitation of God? Oh sure, most of us have responded, but what of the rest of the call which is a call to action? What will we do with the rest of His calling? Just because we forget to remember the Lord, and just because we ignore until we no longer hear God calling to us doesn’t mean His calling has ceased. How arrogant of me to think just because “i” can’t hear God it surely must mean He isn’t speaking, or just because “i” don’t believe must mean it isn’t actually true. God did not cease to invite us, we are the ones who simply can’t hear and don’t respond. It’s like the people who say God doesn’t speak anymore. Ha! That’s such narcissistic, arrogant, foolishness.
Here’s what we’re going to do. Because the Spirit makes intercession, we will stand in our designated place at the call of God and make intercession. In Romans 8:27, the words “make intercession” real time verb, the Holy Spirit is the one taking action, and He’s doing it now, now, now. Because God hears the faintest cry for help, He will not only hear but He will respond. Because the Lord opens His mouth and does justice and stands for right morality, we will stand in our designated place, holding His preferences and standards as the governor for all we breath and do. We will open our mouths for justice, doggedly standing up for right morality. We will stand with Him, proud of our blood bought heritage. As the called of God, STAND! And after you’ve stood all you can stand, stand therefore.
What do you think?
i’m Social Porter for Living In His Name Ministries.