The Full Measure Of God's Call
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Isaiah 6: 8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
This is a very familiar scripture for many of us. Those of us who live a faith-based life and feel "called to service" through a health profession frequently cite this familiar verse when sharing a word of testimony. Indeed, many of us have responded by saying "Here am I. Send me."
In my view, the degree to which we can enjoy fulfillment and joy in our lives as health professionals is totally dependent on our motivation for living that professional life. Most readers of this book likely have not been motivated by selfish desires such as money, power, and prestige. Certainly, those motivations often lead to a frustrated, unfulfilled professional life.
However, many of us may be motivated primarily by a desire to "do good" by serving others. This desire to do something good with one's life is shared by many who profess many religions and by some without spiritual motivation at all. Living a "good life" is a principle shared by many "good people".
What separates those from the fulfilled Christian health professional is this sense of call. This is a call, not just to serve others and to do good, but a call to respond to God's purpose in our lives and a desire to serve Him by serving others. By the way, the same can be said of our personal life, our family life, and any aspect of living. Any effort outside God's perfect will and call for our lives is doomed to be less than completely fulfilling and joyous.
Lord, help us not to live to "do good" and serve others. Help us, Lord, to respond to your call for our lives and to do all we do in your name.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
Photo by Denes Kozma on Unsplash
