Do the Work - for which you are called- In His Word 8-28-17
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg
you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always
be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each
other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves
united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:1-3
Were you
called to pray? Then pray for those in need, healing, comfort and faith. Pray
as a job that you are paid for even though you do it out of the kindness and
tenderness in your heart. God called you to pray; so pray!
Do not let the world confound you and keep you
from your calling.
When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy
people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed
what we told you about him. So
we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy
of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your
faith prompts you to do. Then
the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you
will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace
of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ 2
Thessalonians 1:10-12
If you are called to preach- preach! If you are called to teach- teach! If you are called to serve- serve! If you are called to write- write! Do the will of God over you... walk in it!
You know in
your heart what your calling is when God calls you; you cannot outrun your
calling. God will provide the skills, or the means to get the skills when He
calls you to do a thing.
Skills
can come via learning at a school or from studying to show your selves approved
by God! So start out with prayer, and then read to learn the Word of God not
just to complete your daily read.
I solemnly urge you in
the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the
dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is
favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with
good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to
sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look
for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
They
will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t
be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and
fully carry out the ministry God has given you. 2 Timothy 4:1-6 (kjv)
Something we
all need to remember is that when we are called to do a thing it can be
different than we thought. For instance my calling is to “Speak and to preach
and to teach to all people from all walks of life and ages”; I thought at first
I had to be a public speaker type of preacher. I have since realized that I am
reaching people through speaking, writing and teaching at various times in my
walk with Him. At these times I am more writing but God brings me words to
speak as well from time to time from schedule to schedule! It is fun being
flexible! It means a person can be used more by God.
Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God
himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do
it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do
will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him
forever and ever! Amen.1 Peter 4:11
Think for a
moment of that clay that God uses so many times in the Word. Clay is dry and
for the most part dirt until it is refined. For the most part refining is rinsing
it to get the rocks and such out of it and to make it pliable. Pliable clay can
be used to become anything we put our hands to; with a little bit of push and
squish we can create the thing which we desire it to be. In the same way our
calling is planned by God; we can become whatever He chooses to put His hands
to in our lives. He can make us a cup with a handle, or a bowl! We are still
His creation and we are formed to the purpose in which He has planned.
This article that you are reading is
one way that God is reaching out to use my calling. The call to preach; writing
can be a form of preaching, Paul and Peter both use this form to tell others
how to live a life pleasing to God.
Instead,
we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like
Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole
body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps
the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of
love. With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the
Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Ephesians 4:15-17
Step out of your comfort zone if you
have to but do the will of God in your life. You will learn that it is His
authority that progresses us forward in our God given calling and that if the
thing is not of God it will not prosper! If God is not in it, it will go no
where but if it is of God it will go everywhere!
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
Psalm 84:11
Dear
Heavenly Father, help us to walk in our calling and do what is right in Your
eyes not only in the eyes of men and women around us. Help us to do the right
things according to Your will in Your Word. Bless us as we do and open the
doors to share the blessings from You; that they may know… in Jesus name, amen.
Suggested
reading: 1 Peter 4:1-19, Ephesians 4: 1-32, 1 Timothy 4:1-16 and 2
Thessalonians 1:1-10