I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me. —Philippians 3:12
{CHAMBERS} “Never
choose to be a worker for God, but once God has placed His call on you, woe be
to you if you “turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deuteronomy 5:32).
We are not here to work for God because we have chosen to do so, but because
God has “laid hold of” us. And once He has done so, we never have this thought,
“Well, I’m really not suited for this.” What you are to preach is also
determined by God, not by your own natural leanings or desires. Keep your soul
steadfastly related to God, and remember that you are called not simply to
convey your testimony but also to preach the gospel. Every Christian must
testify to the truth of God […] There must be unflinching faithfulness to the
Word of God, but when you come to personal dealings with others, remember who
you are— you are not some special being created in heaven, but a sinner saved
by grace. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I
do…I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).”
{ELGIN} The Bible is pretty
clear that God has not called all of us to do the same thing in the kingdom ..
in the Body of Christ … some have been given specific responsibilities (Ephesians
4:7,11-13) “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned
it. […] So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the
body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ.”
For all Christians we have
been given spiritual gifts for the building up of the Body and the proclamation
of the Gospel. When I talk to Christians
about what we do, I always hasten to add the God has not called everyone to lay
down their nets (quit their job, sell their house, live in a camper or travel
to a 3rd world country to live and minister) but He has called
everyone to service. To live their lives
in such a manner as to bring Glory to God, to lift Jesus up, to be a light in a
dark world. Environmentalists are
concerned about preserving the earth for future generations .. that is not a
bad thing .. but it is not the best thing.
This world, like these jars of clay that we know as our earthly bodies,
will pass away one day. We need to be
good stewards of God’s creation, certainly. But, the more important thing is
that there is an eternity beyond this earthly life … the bigger question is
where will the future generations spend eternity. Not everyone will be saved .. but some will
.. that is because we have been given a free will … free to reject God and His
gift of grace through Jesus and His sacrifice.
Our purpose is to live in
obedience to the Word of God by the power of the Spirit and submission of our
will to the Father through faith in Jesus. And – to share the Good News with
those around us. We do that through words
and deeds. Jesus said (Matthew 5:13) “Salt
that has lost its savor is good for nothing…”
If you are a Christian but are living like the lost people around you …
you, the salt and light, have lost your savor or ability to do what God
purposed. What is it in your life that
you need to cast aside because it is hindering you from fulfilling your
purpose? A worldly habit, an earthly
pleasure, a friend who encourages the carnal in you, an ungodly preference that
your culture is convinced is good, perhaps not reading the Word, not praying,
not associating with other Christians? Listen
– the list of obstacles is long.
Whatever it is .. today is the day you should repent of it and turn your
face toward the Father who is eager to see you return.
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