In this special episode of Justice & the Inner Life, we share a Sunday morning message Jedd delivered on Labor Day 2021 at the Falls Church Anglican. In it, he offers a vision for Christian vocation — exploring the deep value of our daily work, our sense of God’s calling in our lives, and also, critically, how to keep what matters most in all of this first.
In this episode, we'll explore:
- What it means to live a called life.
- How our sense of vocation will impact every part of our lives, not just our work.
- The severe consequences of mixing up our primary and secondary calling.
- Some warning signs that signal our view of our calling is out of order.
- What it takes to persevere in work of justice & mercy for a lifetime.
Key Quotes
"If we get [our sense of calling] wrong, then what we think of as our primary vocation will go awry. It will become a burden, not a joy. And we will almost certainly do harm to others too, especially those nearest us. BUT, when we set our primary vocation first, becoming a little more like Jesus every day, our yoke will grow surprisingly light, even when we carry heavy loads…"
"This work [of mercy and justice] is not just a requirement of God’s people, it is most of all a revealing of God’s heart – of who He really is."
"Our first and deepest calling as followers of Christ is not to any job or career or even a lifetime mission. Our first and primary calling is simply this: to grow more like Jesus every day."
"The biblical calling to fellowship, to freedom, to peace of heart, to holiness, to salvation, to bring good to even those who have done wrong to us – none of these point to a particular career or undertaking. They are all fundamentally about our character and our way of life."
"When we are growing a little more like Jesus every day, especially in the very small things – the little choices of our thought life, what we chose to do with the first 15 minutes of our day, our attentiveness to the person in front of us and to God, other little habits and small choices – when those things are growing more like Jesus, then what grows out of us - including our public vocation – will be good too."
Resources and Guests
Jedd has seen (and experienced!) that lives are turned upside-down when Christians begin to reflect God’s heart through adoption, foster care and service to orphans worldwide. This kind of love transforms not only vulnerable children, but also those who open hearts and homes to them. Churches begin to look different, too, as the entire community pulls together for children who’ve known great hurt. Finally, the change touches even onlookers, who encounter the Gospel not only in words, but made visible before their eyes.
Desiring to spur this kind of transformation through the Church, Jedd serves as President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.
Through CAFO, more than 225 respected organizations unite in shared initiatives, along with a wide network of churches. CAFO’s membership works in tandem to inspire and equip families, churches and organizations for effective service to vulnerable children and families — from adoption and US foster care, to aid and empowerment programs worldwide.
Prior to his this role, Jedd served in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, leading the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In this post, he oversaw reform efforts across the government to make community- and faith-based groups central partners in all Federal efforts to aid the needy, from prisoner reentry to global AIDS. As described by the Harvard Political Review, these reforms “fundamentally changed the government’s strategy for improving the lives of the downtrodden…”
Previously, Jedd held a range of posts in the California State Legislature. He also helped establish the California Community Renewal Project, which strengthens nonprofits in some of the state’s most challenged communities. He has worked, studied and served in more than thirty countries, with organizations ranging from Price-Waterhouse in Moscow to Christian Life Bangladesh.
Books written by Jedd include Upended and Four Souls. He also writes articles and op-eds for publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post to Comment Magazine, and engages radio interviews with both faith-based and mainstream outlets, from NPR and Al Jazeera to Moody Radio. Jedd’s most recent book, Becoming Home, offers a brief-yet-rich exploration of how families and communities can embrace vulnerable children with wisdom and love through adoption, foster care, mentoring and more.
