Over the course of the last few weeks there has been one phrase that has continually popped up in my life. That phrase is “own it.” I know there is a lot of talk about owning up to your mistakes, or taking control and owning the decisions you are making in life to create a future, but its been bigger than that for me. Life, decisions, and mistakes are all important to own, but what would our lives look like if we really took ownership of our commitment to Christ?

Our walk with Christ started with accepting Him, but quickly moved to a mandate to make sure it didn’t just stay with me. He gave a command called the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.” Can you imagine what our lives would look like if we actually took ownership of that command and made it the center of everything we do?

I love reading the stories of Paul throughout the New Testament. He was passionate about everything he did (even when his passion pre-Christ was drastically opposite of his passion after the Damascus Road). Paul immediately jumped “all-in” and started looking at his life differently. His decisions weren’t made to cater to his own comforts, but instead to the command Christ gave. He owned his calling as a Christ-follower. He owned it so much that nothing was going to stop him! I love 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 as Paul talks about what he’s suffered through for the cause of Christ. He isn’t doing it as a “woe is me” speech to gain sympathy, but to point out that NOTHING will stop him from proclaiming Christ.

What I believe made Paul such a great tool wasn’t a position of stature, favor with political powers, or even being an amazing communicator. It was his hard work and the actions he took because he was fueled by the call Christ had placed on his life. He didn’t just claim to live a Christian life, he personally took ownership of his calling.

God has given you the same calling. Will you own it?