Greetings in the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord! Yesterday's Epistle was
Ephesians 4:1-6, and we will look at the first sentence, verses 1-3,
which read: "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a
manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all
humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in
love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
This
verse speaks to a topic that is near and dear to my heart, and that is
the topic of "Vocation". Many things happened in the Reformation;
Martin Luther restored many biblical ideas, but I think the most
marvelous one (and sadly sometime overlooked one) is that of "Vocation."
The
word "Vocation" is simply Latin for "Calling" -- "Voca" as in voice, or
vocal. What you have been called to do. Now, in Luther's day, if one
didn't work for the Church, if one wasn't a priest or a monk, one wasn't
deemed to be as "holy" or as good of a Christian. The thought had been
that if you were a "real Christian" you would have gone to the
Monastery. Luther trashes that idea -- as Christians we all have
vocations, things to which we have been called.
At this point in
Ephesians, the book shifts into a discussion of how a Christian is to
live -- in his or her vocations. Consider the things of your life, the
stations. I am a husband. I was given this calling by God (therefore
what God has joined together...). I am a father - I was given this
calling by God. I am a son - I was given by God to my parents. I
happen to be a pastor; my wife happens to be a nurse -- these are
vocations given to us by God.
All of these things, and so many
others beside - all the various "hats" which we wear - these are things
given to us by God. And those in your life are as well. And so - walk
in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. We
approach the tasks we have been given with humility and love for those
whom we are to serve, because everything in our life is about love and
serving the neighbor. And this is holy and good.
One of the
things that the world will do is that it will try to diminish, wear you
down by mocking or belittling the things you have been given to do. You
may hear the phrase, "You're just a..." -- that's diminishing. Or you
may see what others have, and then become envious, wish that you had
what they had... and then look down upon what you have.
No,
remember this. Christ Jesus has called you to holiness - and that isn't
some artificial way of strutting around -- no. He has called you out
of sin and death and made you to be His own forgiven servant, a servant
who has all sorts of wonderful roles in life laid out directly for you.
Enjoy
them. See them as gifts from God, opportunities to serve and show
love. And let no one belittle them and you - for you are God's own
child whom He loves dearly.
Have a great week!
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