A high calling

When we are sure of something it most definitely puts a different spin on the reality of that truth. Take a man who is schooled in the art of any trade and put him against a novice in the same field and it will be clear to see a difference in workmanship. The novice will fumble at the task while the professional will get the job done with ease and precision.

With a similar principle established in my mind pertaining to salvation I would like to consider our application as believers for the task at hand. We have all been given the same instruction, get the job done! What is the contract that needs conquering? Simply put; forgetting what is behind, let us move in a new direction, which will bring about a confidence in our Redeemers finished work. Is the evidence of salvation alive in our lives? Not only as a truth for the history books but have we been changed, can sinners and saint testify to that transformation. The saint as he glorifies God for the witness in our life with the unrepentant sinner watching and waiting for us to slip up so that they may pounce and find justification for their own sin; excusing themselves whilst accusing others of the exact same sin. We have been called to a very high calling, our Saviour left us with a phenomenal example to follow. We will slip and fall along the way; nevertheless we must become schooled with the fruits of the Spirit as a way of life. We must make them our objective and they are; - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

If we take time to unpack all of Christ’s fruits we will see that they stand up against any scrutiny when the law is used to find fault. The law will cast no accusation against a person with this demeanour. Let us therefore make it our objective to find grace throughout the day to become more proactive in finding them as a way of life, God help us is my cry! Theory must not remain a concept it must begin to become our authenticity, especially in today’s day and age with so much hate infiltrating our society. We are the salt of the earth! What then is needed from us?   

    

Let us learn for the best…

A classic example would be the calling out of the twelve disciples; it was such a radical shift in their careers it surely brought about much discussion in the lives of so many. And yet without their commitment to Christ’s gospel how would the message have fared? Now I do not want us to reason with blinkers on, God is Sovereign and He will bring to pass whatever He chooses to, that is obvious! After all He spoke the creation into existence! Nevertheless He chose to use men to further the proclamation of His gospel and scripture teaches us this truth; “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?" And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise." (Luke 3:8-11)

Salvation is a free gift, it is not of works, we cannot earn salvation this is what religious cults look to teach the ignorant, we cannot earn entrance into the portals of heaven on our own merits that is impossible, we are so tainted with sin, it needed the hand of God to rescue us in and through the finished work of Calvary. Most, if not all should have understood this by now. My concern is this, having understood the “free gift” of God; it’s what we do with it once we have it that will determine so much in the future. The Apostles have left us their legacy and we should look to their example if we are to mimic them in any way. How was it that they started out? We cannot hang onto particular pieces of our lives if we are to be pliable in the Master’s hands. If we have any resistance in particular areas of our lives we have already begun to move with a dangerous crowd and just like the children of Abraham, we may begin to say we have the free gift of salvation and begin to allow our gift to gather dust and before long it is buried deep within a hole. We need to repent in every area of our lives that looks to rob us of our freedom in Christ. Testing every nook and cranny of our selfish lives to see how willing we will be to let go and those areas that need work will quickly become evident…

 Jesus said to Simon Bar Johan, follow me! What was his reaction? “Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Mark 1:16-18)

Can you see the willingness to surrender all? They left their livelihood and followed Christ, they ventured into the realm of the unknown. Such a scary thought for most of us, but faith demands these kinds of responses. Instead of hoarding our clothes why not give to those that need? It is obvious we are trapped in that kind of area of our lives. We must learn to surrender all for God to be glorified in our lives, yes some will mock, and so what! I heard the preacher say at my Fathers memorial, that we can test how committed to Christ we actually are by how many people outside of Christ treat us with aversion. We can no longer run with the crowds, we must come out and be separate if we are to be of any help to those dearest to us.

Our brother Peter teaches us this valuable lesson; “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;” (1Peter 4:1-4)   

            

Many of us may have blotched in these areas of our lives, it’s time to let bygones be bygones; find forgiveness from the one who has the power to forgive, but let us no longer run in the crowds we once ran, for some of us it took the pig’s pen to understand this valuable lesson, nevertheless God is merciful and full of grace and for this I thank him, Praise the glorious name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone