Twelve years ago, I prided myself in making a big career move by transitioning into full-time ministry. I had enjoyed my job in the insurance industry and the time I had spent there bearing witness to Jesus, but I had sensed that to have a greater impact I needed to move from the “secular” (i.e. regular life, regular job) to the “sacred” (i.e. ministry, mission). I served in full-time ministry domestically for three years, and then I left for my international field of service, however, I would come to realize later that the way I was thinking about the secular vs. the sacred was erroneous.

I must have read 1 Peter 2:9 hundreds of times over the years, but one afternoon while on furlough, when I was meticulously reading that passage my eyes were opened to the time I had been “called”. The passage read: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”—a passage that was about calling, identity and purpose.

Being “called" is an invitation. In fact, in John 6:44, Jesus explains that no one can come to Him unless the Father who sent Him draws him. In the Greek, the word “called” is kletos which is closely related to the word for “church” which is ekklesia. So as members of the church, we are a body of “called ones”, invited to leave darkness for light. What a beautiful picture that is!

Being called is one thing, but there must be a response to the invitation, so we may transition from being satan’s own sinful, wretched, disregarded slaves to becoming God’s own, holy, royal, chosen people—receiving our new identity. However, accepting the invitation is crucial so we may receive the highest calling of all—proclaiming Him and His mighty acts—this is our purpose.

Either I am a teacher in a public school (which I would have previously labeled as “a secular job”) or a teacher in Lebanon teaching Syrian refugees (which I would have labeled ministerial or sacred), it does not matter. The moment we accept God’s call to leave darkness into His marvelous light through Christ Jesus, we enter into the sacred. Our call to proclaim Him and His mighty acts start right there and then, wherever He places us. If we, Christian believers, do not see our work (as a maid, as a mom, as a dad, as a factory worker, as a teacher, as a politician, as a lifeguard, as a doctor, as a nurse, as a claim adjuster, as a janitor, as a translator, as a dog-walker, as a baker . . . etc.) mattering for eternity, we will think we are just working a job, earning a living. If our mindset is not changed in understanding that wherever the Lord has placed us is a place for us to glorify and proclaim Him, we will be deceived in thinking that only a transition from “secular” to “sacred” will bring Him glory. The moment we accept His invitation to come out of darkness into His marvelous light we have just stepped into the sacred!