SOUNDING OUT: Our Calling

SOUNDING OUT: Our Calling
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SOUNDING OUT:
Our Calling

Romans 11:29:
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

When reading this verse many times believers focus on the gifts, I focus on the without repentance part since many think you can lose it, which makes me, "Lose it!"

Let's take some time to consider the calling. Notice that even though the gifts are plural, the calling is always singular. Notice also that Romans 12:5-6 says, "having gifts differing... " Gifts are many, and they differ. But the calling is the same.

I believe that the calling is singular because it is complete and all encompassing. We were called once, and it is distinct, personal and individualized. IT HAS TO BE. We are all so very completely different. We are all called to both our own good works here on earth [Ephesians 2:10] and glory thereafter. Moreover, even if we do not fulfill our calling God never takes it back or wishes He never called us. It's without repentance.

Romans 8:28-30:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Our calling is a big deal. We have to see it bigger so that we can live up to our calling in Christ. We need to ask God to show us everything that He has called us to in Christ Jesus. Maybe we need to see what it would be like without it. The movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" comes to mind. About HOW life could be pretty crummy, not knowing the life God has called us to, not knowing the difference we can and do make in our world. If we do not understand our calling we can never fulfill our calling. We do make a difference; we are important to God, and God has placed a wealth of potential in us.

Philippians 3:13-14:
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Because of our calling, we can shun the past, (the good, the bad, the ugly, all of it if we need to). We can put it behind us, leave it where it lies, and not drag it along with us. We have the freedom to go forth and do our Father's business. We have all been called to specific actions and to do specific exploits. Remember Ephesians 2:10? We are called to do those works which God has put in our path. So let's just waltz right into them. Since God is an individual God, every gifting is specific and every calling is distinct. We all have different functions and different offices in the body of Christ. We all have gifts differing,

Romans 12:4-5:
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

We are all called into this our new family and the one body but every one of us is a member in particular. We can be strangely different. Why? Freewill and the fact that God does not control us. We can win or lose by what we choose. We can excel, forge ahead, be a mover and a shaker, because when we move HE MOVES. God can move and shake up things as we make HIM KNOWN.

That is our calling, bottom line, to make CHRIST known which will make God KNOWN. GOD WILL absolutely open doors for us to SPEAK. Those doors open as there are lonely hearts out there seeking freedom, seeking truth. As we pray for doors to open, someone is praying for you to come through that door to set them free. We are in Christ's stead. Try that on for size! Dare we say, "He who has seen me, has seen the Father?"

ACTS 10 shows that as Cornelius was seeking, Peter came a speaking. Both were praying, both were seeking God. They were doing their best, and God did the rest. IT IS THAT SIMPLE !!! As you seek to speak it, you will find opportunities to do so. It's a principle. We desire it God brings it to pass. God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek HIM. It is a Win-Win situation. God sent the vision and unfolded the details.

One man prayed to hear, while another prayed to speak. It's our duty. We believe and therefore speak. So ARISE and GO. We have specific functions and specific exploits to fulfill. God has good works for us to do. They are all laid out before us.

There is one seeking. Is there one speaking? We are chosen by Him, and we respond to our calling. That's how we make our election sure. You are called to do specific good works. You are a new creation in Christ, behold all things are new. No one is like you physically and no one is like you spiritually either. As believers we grow up into Christ. We are in his stead (IICorinthians 5:20) fulfilling that which God has foreordained for us to do (Ephesians 2:10) God is waiting to open doors for YOU, to DO.

II Thessalonians 1:11,12:
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My prayer for all of you is that God will give you the understanding of your calling that you carry out the missions that He has called you to do for Him.

Remember it is just this easy: Since there is always one seeking, you can be the one speaking. Amen.

By Pat Lubomski