Living Your Calling

How do you and I live with dignity and honour every day of our lives – not in arrogance and pride nor in false humbleness – but in true dignity and honour.

I think our friend from the Bible, the Apostle Paul, has a hint for us from his own life and then something direct from his teaching.  Look at these words:

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.

Ephesians 4:1

Paul is in prison, and ancient prisons were not fun and comfortable place to be.  Paul was there, not because of things he’d done wrong but because he had been serving the Lord and holding up the name of Jesus.  He knew his calling and we know his calling from what Paul wrote elsewhere when he said:

God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.

Galatians 1:15-16

So now because Paul is doing what God told Him to do he’s suffering and stuck in a dark and dirty prison.  When he could have used some care and encouragement from others Paul is writing people who are living in freedom to encourage them to lie in the dignity of who God has called them to be.

The only place where any of us will be truly happy and contented is when we are living as God has created us to live and doing the things God has prepare in advance for us to do.

Every day we wake up to an opportunity to do good in God’s name or to wander around doing things that we think will make us happy and provide for our needs. Our circumstances are not an accurate indicator of whether or not we are doing that. 

We may be enjoying a season of peace and blessing and we should enjoy that as long as it lasts but there will always come times where we must rise above our circumstances and give ourselves to the life we know God has called us to live.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me.

Philippians 4:11-13

Heavenly Father, help us today to be content in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.  We want to be those who live out our calling to be witnesses to Your goodness at all times. 

We’re grateful for the truth that we can actually do that in the strength and the resources that You give us.  We can do all things through You who give us strength. 

So Lord, remind us again of Your faithful goodness and help us to live for You through whatever circumstances today is bringing our way.  Help us to keep our minds focused on what we know You’ve already told us and trust You to make something beautiful of even this day.  Amen

Well friends, let’s live well today with our hearts settled in the truth that: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11