… of the calling you have received.
Summary: Paul talks about “the” calling we have received, but in his letter, he talks about three different aspects of this calling.
Did you know you had a “calling?” You do! And it is one that God has prepared especially for you.
How do I know that? Well, normally, I would refer to the Bible. In this case, we have the Scripture right in front of us that says we have been called. As to what it means to be called, I would like to propose three general definitions. These definitions are intended to complement each other rather than compete. The first one has to do with our general calling as Christians. The second is more specific about what it means to be a Christian, and the third has to do with how we apply our individual calling in the world we live in.
Our general calling, the one that applies to all Christians equally, is to believe in Jesus. Part of me would like to make this more complicated. I would love to say “Believe and Jesus and … “ but there is no “and.” In his Gospel account, John records Jesus saying:
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3: 14-15)
There are no conditions on that statement. Jesus wants to save all of humanity if possible. The Jesus I know didn’t die on the cross so that he could nitpick us about how many times we missed attending church or reading our Bible. We go to church and read our Bible for other reasons, but not because it earns us any points for getting into heaven.
The second category of our calling is where things get a little more complicated. Like the first category, this one applies to all believers, but in different ways. Some call this part “sanctification.” Just like the moon’s gravity pulls on our oceans, in a similar way, the gravity of God’s righteousness pulls on us, too. Since it is not possible to go two directions at once, we can’t be light and dark at the same time. The two are incompatible. So each of us is called to grow closer to our Lord, but we all start in a different place and follow the path and timing God has mapped out for us.
The third category of calling depends on who God made us to be. There can never be another Paul or another Peter. They were placed in history at a specific time and given certain tasks. In the same way, each of us today has a certain task to do at a particular time. Some of these tasks benefit the body of Christ as a whole. Some might be for the benefit of specific people, and some might benefit our personal growth. As we continue with this passage, Paul will be showing us more about the second and third types of callings.
Application: Remember that the foundation of our faith is very simple; “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Food for Thought: What might be the danger of pushing our calling(s) onto someone else?
If we push our calling into someone else, then we are in danger of usurping the Holy Spirit’s role in another’s life. While I have been called to share the gospel, where God works in another’s life and the spiritual gifts that He gives them to do so is all about Him, not me.
Well said, Rich!
Thanks! 🙂
06-12-2023, What might be the danger of pushing our calling(s) onto someone else?
God’s calling Is for us, is for now, is irrevocable, is not from us.
Romans 11:29, 12:4-5
God’s sovereignty, love and providence are all seen in His calling of Israel as His people, and we find our identity, our security in knowing that we have also been chosen, have received His call, love, grace and salvation and are secure knowing no-one and nothing can ever separate us from Him.
Moses, Jonah, Samual, Sarah, Leah, Mary, all and many more are examples of people being called by God. Each responded differently but God’s will was done through each one.
The danger comes when we choose to judge the value, importance of God’s calling according to our standards and expectations. Instead we need to accept His sovereignty and trust in His calling as Joseph did in Egypt.
Everything God has ordained is important and must be viewed as our opportunity to serve our perfect God in whatever capacity HE has determined. Allow Him to work through us, experience the joy of His presence as Joseph did. Blessings will come as we honor God as our God, live in His will, no matter what the world might think.
Push cleaning the toilets off onto someone else and we will miss the opportunity of fellowship with God as He serves others through us.
Ron,
You made me laugh with your toilet comment. 🙂
When I wrote today’s Food for Thought question I was remembering a church we used to attend where one long-time member on their Elder Board was bemoaning the fact that he couldn’t just “order” volunteers around like you could employees, especially when it came to cleaning the toilets!
You make me think that he was missing a lot of fellowship opportunities. 🙂
And you got a laugh out of me with your comeback comment, and I am sure he did.