Give me a word, Lord: WHAT DO YOU DO?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

“What do you do?” That’s a question that we have all been asked many times in our lives, and we in turn have asked the question many times. It is a common question that can be used as an icebreaker to get to know someone we have never met before, and it also allows that person to get to know us. However, if we really think about the question and our Christian response, every single Christian could answer the question with the same response. My answer to the question should be, “I serve Jesus Christ by working as a nurse practitioner.” I’m not merely a nurse practitioner. I am a servant of Christ. It is true that I work for man as well. I have employers who expect me to show up on time for my shifts and put in the hours deemed necessary to make a paycheck. I also serve my patients. I try my best to meet their health care needs. I must make proper diagnoses, prescribe the proper medications, and provide adequate teaching. I serve my co-workers too. I have to be willing to work well with my co-workers and pull my weight to make sure that the work day runs as smoothly as possible. It is true that I serve others all day long, but my primary purpose and calling in life is not that of a family nurse practitioner. My calling is to serve the Lord Jesus.

When we wake up each morning with the attitude that we are going out to face the world as a servant of Christ, our whole outlook changes. Getting out of that warm cozy bed at 5:00 am doesn’t seem so bad when I realize that I am getting up early to equip myself with the Word of God so that I am prepared to serve Him better as I walk out the door. The difficulties that arise throughout the day are small in comparison to the trials that our Savior endured on that cross. He gave everything for me. He gave His life for my sins so that I may be made right with the Father. When I contemplate on the anguish that our Lord suffered, my daily trials and sufferings pale drastically in comparison. Christ suffered for me so that I may have eternal life. Because I have accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I am a new person in Him. My salvation changed who I am, and I am a brand new person in Christ. I was created to serve and glorify Him. When asked what I do, I could easily say that I am a nurse practitioner, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a farmer, a writer, a Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, a daughter, a friend, and the list goes on infinitely. It is true. I do a lot of things. I wear a lot of hats, but I always tell people that the favorite hat I wear is my crown. It sits toppled to one side of my head most of the time, but it is there, and I wear it proudly. For you see, my favorite job description and title is daughter of the King.

Because Christ died for me and because I am His child, the desire of my heart is to serve Him. Matthew 28:19-20 reminds us of our calling. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. We are not called to merely do our jobs, earn a paycheck, and pay our bills. We are called to go and make disciples of all nations, and we are called to teach the new disciples to obey all the commands given to us by Christ.

So the next time you are asked, “What do you do?”, how will you respond? Will you take the opportunity to share Christ? Let us began using every opportunity we have to go and make disciples. Share the love for Christ by sharing your heart, and let everyone you come in contact with know that you are a child of the King, and let them know that your job is to serve Him!