Episcopal priest and CAC faculty emeritus Cynthia Bourgeault describes how we can follow the path of descent Jesus models:
In Jesus everything hangs together around a single center of gravity…. In Greek the verb kenosein means “to let go,” or “to empty oneself,” and this is the word Paul chooses at the key moment in his celebrated teaching in Philippians 2:5–11 in order to describe what “the mind of Christ” is all about….
In this beautiful hymn, Paul recognizes that Jesus had only one “operational mode.” Everything he did, he did by self-emptying. He emptied himself and descended into human form. And he emptied himself still further (“even unto death on the cross”) and fell through the bottom to return to the realms of dominion and glory. In whatever life circumstance, Jesus always responded with the same motion of self-emptying—or to put it another way, with the same motion of descent: going lower, taking the lower place, not the higher….
It is a path he himself walked to the very end. In the garden of Gethsemane, with his betrayers and accusers massing at the gates, he struggled and anguished but remained true to his course. Do not hoard, do not cling—not even to life itself. Let it go, let it be—“Not my will but yours be done, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Thus he came and thus he went, giving himself fully into life and death, losing himself, squandering himself, “gambling away every gift God bestows.” It was not love stored up but love utterly poured out that opened the gates to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Over and over, Jesus lays this path before us. There is nothing to be renounced or resisted. Everything can be embraced, but the catch is to cling to nothing. You let it go. You go through life like a knife goes through a done cake, picking up nothing, clinging to nothing, sticking to nothing. And grounded in that fundamental chastity of your being, you can then throw yourself out, pour yourself out, being able to give it all back, even giving back life itself. That’s the kenotic path in a nutshell. Very, very simple. It only costs everything. [1]
Depth psychologist and contemplative author David Benner considers Jesus a model of surrendering to God’s will:
Christ is the epitome of life lived with willingness. “Your will be done,” he prayed in what we call the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10). And more than just in prayer, he lived this posture of preferring God’s will to his own. Christian spirituality is following Christ in this self-abandonment. It is following his example of willing surrender….
The abundant life promised us in Christ comes not from grasping but from releasing. It comes not from striving but from relinquishing. It comes not so much from taking as from giving. Surrender is the foundational dynamic of Christian freedom—surrender of my efforts to live my life outside of the grasp of God’s love and surrender to God’s will and gracious Spirit. [2]
Our vocations—our everyday jobs, responsibilities, and societal roles—are sacred callings in which we are meant to glorify God and serve others. Whether someone is a teacher or technician, stay-at-home parent or CEO, every disciple of Jesus can actively participate in His Kingdom mission through their vocation.
Dismantling the Sacred vs. Secular Divide
A long-standing misconception in the church is that ministry is inherently more spiritual than a so-called “secular job.” Thankfully, this thinking is fading, especially among younger generations who are eager to see their work tied to eternal purpose.
Martin Luther argued that the idea that only clergy served God was “the worst trick of the devil.” Instead, he insisted that cobblers, smiths, and farmers were as consecrated as priests when they served their neighbor through their trade.
Luther and the Reformers emphasized that all vocations—from parenting to farming, teaching to governing—are ways God serves humanity through His people. Gene Edward Veith later expanded on this, showing that when we pray for daily bread, God answers through farmers, truck drivers, and grocers. When we need healing, He often works through doctors and nurses. When we learn or grow, He uses teachers, pastors, mentors, and friends.
As Jack Hayford put it, the divide is not between sacred and secular in God’s mind. It’s between light and darkness. God wants to “seed the Earth” with sons and daughters of light—in every arena of culture.
Redefining Vocation: From Job to Calling
The English word “vocation” stems from the Latin word vocatio, meaning “calling.” In this sense, your vocation is far more than your job title or career path. It’s a divine invitation to participate with God in His work on Earth.
Luther taught that every believer’s vocation—whether in the home, church, market, or government—was a form of priestly service. We are each placed strategically by God to love our neighbors, meet real needs, and bring His light into every space we inhabit.
William Perkins, a Puritan leader, described calling as “a certain kind of life ordained and imposed on man by God, for the common good.” Veith added that every legitimate kind of work is a “mask of God”—an avenue through which God blesses others, often hidden behind human hands.
When you bring comfort, make decisions, serve others, produce value, or build anything that helps your community—you are partnering with God. Whether you’re a milkmaid or a business owner, it’s all holy ground.
Vocational DNA: Five God-Given Traits
Each field of work—whether education, business, arts, technology, medicine, or beyond—contains:
- God-Given Competence – Each vocation comes with gifts and skills that are unique expressions of God’s creativity and power. For example, tech professionals serve by fixing our gadgets, and emergency workers bring order and rescue in moments of crisis.
- Distinct Products and Services – Every field contributes real solutions to meet real needs in the world. Fuel workers help power homes and cars. Media professionals inform, inspire, and sometimes even save lives.
- Unique Impact Range – Some vocations have wide-reaching influence, like performing artists or politicians. Others are more intimate but no less important, like homeschooling parents or local shopkeepers.
- Collaborative Relationships – Each vocation invites teamwork. From surgical units to athletic teams, collaboration builds both friendships and stronger results.
- Specialized Mission – Finally, each field has a unique mission to bless others. Government is meant to protect and provide justice. The Church exists to disciple and evangelize. All work done unto the Lord is valuable and has Kingdom impact.
God’s Character on Display in Every Vocation
- Technology reveals His omniscience and power. Every notification or GPS signal reminds us of God’s capacity to know and guide.
- Creation and Environment reflect His artistry. From the structure of a sunflower to the orbit of the Earth, God reveals Himself as both architect and artist.
- Government shows His leadership, justice, and mercy—pointing to the coming Kingdom.
- Parenting and Family reflect His nurture, creativity, and loving discipline.
Even construction points back to the Master Builder, who gave Noah detailed blueprints for the ark and called skilled laborers to build the Tabernacle. Every field is a canvas for His glory.
This Is Not Just a Job—It’s God’s Work
Whether you’re leading a company or fixing plumbing, writing code or raising children, your work is a sacred trust. You are God’s representative in your vocation. When you serve with love, excellence, and faithfulness, you bear witness to the One who called you.
This vocational vantage point changes how we think, serve, and lead. It dismantles false divisions, elevates all kinds of work, and invites every follower of Jesus to see their 9-to-5 as an altar of worship. It’s not a career—it’s a calling.
