8.77 Works of faith – fulfilling your upward call in Christ
Under the Old Covenant, the goal was to attain to righteousness through works of the law. Romans 4 gave the verdict that none attained to it. But under the New Covenant, we start our journey at the cross where we received righteousness of Jesus. Their finishing line is our starting point. So what is our goal? We have a different goal in Christ – as the voice and expression of Christ in this world.
(Philippians 3:14)
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST Jesus.
The above verse tells us that we have an upward call of God in Christ Jesus. In Eph 1:18, Paul prays that you may know the hope of His CALLING. Many people are simply sucked into the rat race of life – in school, in our careers, in building a family, in raising the kids, in saving for retirement, etc. But these things are temporal. Sometimes we feel that we are always rushing around but we may not seem to be getting anywhere.
God has a higher calling for us which are eternal. We were saved for a divine purpose. You have been planted as the light in your family to bring them the gospel message of God’s love. They may never hear the gospel except through you – your life and your message.
God also has a higher purpose for everyone in the body of Christ. Each of us has a calling to play our part to build up the body of Christ. Along with the calling comes the empowerment of spiritual and ministry gifts. Eph 4:15-16 tells us that every joint in the body supplies and every part does its share to bring about growth to the body. Everyone has a ministry in the body of Christ. You have to discover it with small steps of faith to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. When you walk by faith in that calling, you will be a blessing and you will find a deeper sense of fulfillment.
(Ephesians 4:15-16)
…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES, according to the effective working by which EVERY PART DOES ITS SHARE, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Whatever phase of life we go through, the upward call of God will be our guiding force that powers us from within. In Christ, we will accomplish our calling and find fulfillment. This is true works of faith.
(Philippians 3:14)
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST Jesus.
The above verse tells us that we have an upward call of God in Christ Jesus. In Eph 1:18, Paul prays that you may know the hope of His CALLING. Many people are simply sucked into the rat race of life – in school, in our careers, in building a family, in raising the kids, in saving for retirement, etc. But these things are temporal. Sometimes we feel that we are always rushing around but we may not seem to be getting anywhere.
God has a higher calling for us which are eternal. We were saved for a divine purpose. You have been planted as the light in your family to bring them the gospel message of God’s love. They may never hear the gospel except through you – your life and your message.
God also has a higher purpose for everyone in the body of Christ. Each of us has a calling to play our part to build up the body of Christ. Along with the calling comes the empowerment of spiritual and ministry gifts. Eph 4:15-16 tells us that every joint in the body supplies and every part does its share to bring about growth to the body. Everyone has a ministry in the body of Christ. You have to discover it with small steps of faith to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. When you walk by faith in that calling, you will be a blessing and you will find a deeper sense of fulfillment.
(Ephesians 4:15-16)
…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES, according to the effective working by which EVERY PART DOES ITS SHARE, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Whatever phase of life we go through, the upward call of God will be our guiding force that powers us from within. In Christ, we will accomplish our calling and find fulfillment. This is true works of faith.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:12 PM
<< Home