Bible verses about "vocation" | Moffatt

¹⁶ You have not chosen me, it is I who have chosen you, appointing you to go and bear fruit — fruit that lasts, so that the Father may grant you whatever you ask in my name.

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the hill where Jesus had arranged to meet them. ¹⁷ When they saw him they worshipped him, though some were in doubt. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came forward to them and said, "Full authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth; ¹⁹ go and make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teach them to obey all the commands I have laid on you. And I will be with you all the time, to the very end of the world."

¹⁷ so Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me and I will make you fish for men." ¹⁸ At once they dropped their nets and went after him. ¹⁹ Then going on a little further he saw James the son of Zebedaeus and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets; ²⁰ he called them at once, and they left their father Zebedaeus in the boat with the crew and went to follow him.

¹⁷ Only, everyone must lead the lot assigned him by the Lord; he must go on living the life in which God's call came to him. (Such is the rule I lay down for all the churches). ¹⁸ Was a man circumcised at the time he was called? Then he is not to efface the marks of it. Has any man been called when he was uncircumcised? Then he is not to get circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision counts for nothing, uncircumcision counts for nothing; obedience to God's commands is everything. ²⁰ Everyone must remain in the condition of life where he was called. ²¹ You were a slave when you were called? Never mind. Of course, if you do find it possible to get free, you had better avail yourself of the opportunity. ²² But a slave who is called to be in the Lord is a freedman of the Lord. Just as a free man who is called is a slave of Christ ²³ (for you were bought for a price; you must not turn slaves to any man). ²⁴ Brothers, everyone must remain with God in the condition of life where he was called.

¹ As the Lord's prisoner, then, I beg of you to live a life worthy of your calling, ² with perfect modesty and gentleness, showing forbearance to one another patiently, zealous in love ³ to preserve the unity of the Spirit by binding peace upon yourselves. ⁴ For there is one Body and one Spirit — as you were called for the one hope that belongs to your call — ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over us all, who pervades us all, who is within us all. ⁷ But each one of us is granted his own grace, as determined by the full measure of Christ's gift. ⁸ Thus it is said, When he ascended on high he led a host captive and granted gifts to men. ⁹ What does he ascended mean, except that he first descended to the nether regions of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is he who ascended above all the heavens to fill the universe; ¹¹ he granted some men to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to shepherd and teach, ¹² for the equipment of the saints, for the business of the ministry, for the upbuilding of the Body of Christ,

¹⁴ For many are invited but few are chosen.'"

¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me: for he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor, he has sent me to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for the blind, to set free the oppressed,

¹ As the Lord's prisoner, then, I beg of you to live a life worthy of your calling, ² with perfect modesty and gentleness, showing forbearance to one another patiently, zealous in love ³ to preserve the unity of the Spirit by binding peace upon yourselves. ⁴ For there is one Body and one Spirit — as you were called for the one hope that belongs to your call — ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over us all, who pervades us all, who is within us all. ⁷ But each one of us is granted his own grace, as determined by the full measure of Christ's gift. ⁸ Thus it is said, When he ascended on high he led a host captive and granted gifts to men. ⁹ What does he ascended mean, except that he first descended to the nether regions of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is he who ascended above all the heavens to fill the universe; ¹¹ he granted some men to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to shepherd and teach, ¹² for the equipment of the saints, for the business of the ministry, for the upbuilding of the Body of Christ, ¹³ till we should all attain the unity of the faith and knowledge of God's Son, reaching maturity, reaching the full measure of development which belongs to the fulness of Christ —

⁴ In our one body we have a number of members, and the members have not all the same function; ⁵ so too, for all our numbers, we form one Body in Christ and we are severally members one of another. ⁶ Our talents differ with the grace that is given us; if the talent is that of prophecy, let us employ it in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if it is practical service, let us mind our service; the teacher must mind his teaching, ⁸ the speaker his words of counsel; the contributor must be liberal, the superintendent must be in earnest, the sick visitor must be cheerful.

¹ As the Lord's prisoner, then, I beg of you to live a life worthy of your calling,