Is Your Faith Walk Generic?

But imagine if that’s all you received—no clear job description, no sense of what your role actually is. Just a general picture of the organization.

That’s how many Christians end up living their faith. They live a sincere but generic spiritual life, without much sense of personal assignment from the Lord.

Discipleship is often done this way. We hand people a long manual (the Bible), or sometimes a shorter one—guidelines, beliefs, expectations—and we encourage them to learn the content and behave well. But we rarely help them discern their specific calling: what God may be entrusting to them, in this season, among these people.

Yet when we were born from above into the Kingdom of God, something profound happened. Scripture tells us we were formed into a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9). Every believer is now a priest—what theology often calls “the priesthood of all believers.” But priesthood isn’t a vague title. A priest needs a people. A shepherd needs a flock. These are lived-out roles, expressed in particular places and moments.

The apostle Paul spoke openly about the ministry assignment God had given him (2 Corinthians 10:13–18). He understood that God’s calling came with boundaries—real limits that also carried God’s authority. An assignment might last a short season, many years, or a lifetime. Its boundaries may be shaped by geography, a people group, an age group, or a particular need. The key point is this: God’s assignments are personal, concrete, and purposeful. They serve God’s larger work, bless others, and—surprisingly—become a place of deep joy for us.

This means we need to learn how to discern God’s assignments in our own lives—and help others do the same. Discipleship and equipping work best when they are personal rather than generic. That requires a growing understanding of Scripture, deeper listening, and genuine love for one another.

We actually need each other to grow into our priesthood. Paying attention to one another’s burdens, strengths, abilities, gifts, and spiritual authority matters more than we often realize. Mutual prayer, honest feedback, and shared discernment can greatly increase our effectiveness.

So here are a few questions to sit with:

• Can you articulate what you sense God assigning to you in this season?

• Are you able to share that discernment with others for prayer, wisdom, and feedback?

• How might God’s assignment shape the way you read Scripture, practice spiritual disciplines, or make decisions?

• Who might help you grow more effective and grounded in what God has entrusted to you?

God rarely gives us only a manual. He also gives us a calling—and companions to help us live it out.