Day 19: Called, But To What?
Read Ephesians 4:1-6
“…eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
We are called to one hope. It is so easy to think of calling in terms of individualist ideals. “I am called to this specific spot, to do this specific task, because God made me good at this specific thing.” This is true, but it is not the whole truth. You are called into the body of Christ. Verses 5 and 6 of the Ephesians passage say it so well: You are called into “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”.
Your specific duties will come in time as the Lord directs, but your calling will always stay the same. You are called to the God and Father of all. So no matter what life is throwing at you today, you can have hope that you have not ruined God’s plans for your life, because God Himself is the plan for your life. He has not left you or forsaken you. In fact, the opposite is true. God is madly in love with you and proud of you. When He looks at you, He sees Jesus’ righteousness. The robe of Christ is wrapped around, and your sins of are far as the east is from the west, because your faith and hope are put in Jesus as the Son of God.
So today, pursue this unity and oneness with and in Christ. Remind someone of their calling, which is to be with God himself. Remind yourself of your calling and worth. For there is one Spirit and hope; and you have the whole of it. So walk in pure joy and confidence as you live a life worthy of the calling you have received (v.1). Bear one another’s burdens in love. Think of someone else above yourself, and uphold the bond of peace you have been called too. For there is more joy when you live in the unity of Christ.
Question to consider:
How can you take a practical step to put this into practice this week in your own life?
Prayer:
Lord, please help me to keep the peace in the relationships in which I find myself today. Allow me to offer forgiveness to people who have offended me. Help me to listen to those who are in pain. I know it is with the comfort that you have freely offered me that I am able to comfort others in need.
By Micah Lorenz