Called Saints. Worship: January 18, 2026

He Qi (Chinese, 1950–), Calling the Disciples, 1999. Oil on canvas.

People often speak about a person’s calling in life. They are describing a unique purpose or vocation according to interests and talents. Often, trying to determine a person’s “calling” or “destiny” is defined by some innate ability or giftedness found within ourselves, something we were born with or somehow born to do.

Today we hear of God calling otherwise ordinary fishermen Andrew and his brother Simon Peter. They were called by God through John the Baptist to follow the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. They were called to be disciples and eventually to be sent on Christ’s mission as apostles. The prophet Isaiah says even the Savior, the servant of the Lord, was called from the womb by God, “that Israel might be gathered to Him,” and called “as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:5–6). Saul of Tarsus was “called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,” and Saul, now named Paul, reminds the church at Corinth and us that we are “called to be saints” (1 Corinthians 1:1–2). This calling differs from merely surveying interests or abilities within us; it comes to us from outside of ourselves, from the living God, our creator and Redeemer. This calling comes from God to everyone. It is the call of salvation, the divine call that transforms us from sinners into saints. Therefore, this calling depends not on anything within us but solely and totally on the grace and mercy and love of God.