A Holy Calling
Have you ever been separated to a specific task in the workplace or in school by a teacher?
For some reason, they decided to favor you and set you apart from the other workers or students by giving you something special and important to do.
That is like a holy calling. It is a special calling seperate from any ordinary calling. All the other workers are called to show up, as are all the other students. But you were called to stand out because of the purpose you were given.
2 Timothy 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
God had determined to give us grace, to show us His amazing favor in life so that others might see and behold His goodness at work in and through our lives. That intended grace was hidden for the most part until Jesus appeared and released it like a flood into the earth.
I love that it says Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. The reason we need to be gospel addicts is because it is the power of God unto salvation, and it is the message that brings life and immortality to light to others.
Notice, though, that Paul is made to suffer for carrying this grace and message in his life. It is not popular with everyone. Living for God because of the wonderful work of His grace, love, mercy, and goodness causes some to be outraged. They prefer that people be made to live as slaves for God due to fear and demand, as opposed to love and goodness revealed through Jesus. The truly transformed life is the result of grace appearing, not fear-mongering.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
When we truly encounter His grace and love, we become zealous for good works. We find pleasure in it. We now get to delight in being like Him and doing things that we know He delights in. This is our holy calling from the Lord. To live as sons and daughters of the Most High, greatly loved, forgiven, and walking in His favor that empowers us to live in His ways on this earth. My ways were traded in for His better way. His calling of grace on my life separated me from what I used to be to what I have now become in Christ. It is a Holy Calling that moves me to preach to others and to carry this good news into the nations.
