Calendar

OUR SPIRITUAL CALLING
TUESDAY, MAY 30
Philippians 3:12-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

 

“…for which also I am

apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

 

OUR SPIRITUAL CALLING
 
Paul next explained his spiritual lack from a different perspective, speaking of the calling that he had from God. He shared how his desire was so that he might apprehend (lay hold of, to grasp tightly, to catch) that which Christ had laid hold of him for (of what Christ has “caught” us for) – his sanctification! That is Christ’s purpose in saving us, that we can be conformed to His image. Paul knew that he had not yet apprehended, that he was still far from the mark that Christ had for him. Therefore, Paul explained how he was trying with his utmost ability to live up to the expectation that was set for him when Christ took hold of his life and turned him from a sinner to a saint.
 
Every child of God has a calling as a Christian. All of us have been saved for a reason and a purpose. We must understand that we are not saved so that we can live a life of sin and wantonness. No! God went through all the trouble to work out the plan of salvation even before the foundation of the world, “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph 1:4). Paul understood this purpose, and this was what motivated him to seek to live a life that was pleasing and acceptable to God. He was fighting to reach the goal that Christ had set for him, when He grabbed hold of him on the road to Damascus, and called him to be a servant of God.
 
In these verses, we see the motivations of the Apostle Paul, where it was his love for Christ and recognition of his own imperfections that motivated him to keep going. He knew that he was not there yet, and so constantly sought to better himself for the Lord. He did not rest on the laurels of his past achievements, for he knew that the moment he became complacent, that was how he would become ineffective for the Lord! That is how an ambitious person is, as he strives for the accomplishments of the world. He is driven by a discontent with his present state and a desire for success. Is this how we are as well, in terms of our spiritual ambitions?
 
THOUGHT: Can a true Christian be spiritually unambitious?
PRAYER: Father, may I ever be conscious of the calling that Thou hast set for me.

Search