Do you think of yourself as called? In church circles we usually reserve this language for the pastors, teachers, missionaries, evangelists, apostles, and prophets amongst us. While we can and should respect these leaders, we must be careful not to create a special class of disciples, the "called ones." In fact, in God's family, each and every disciple is called (see Matthew 28:19-20). To understand this more fully, however, we need to ask ourselves the question, what or to what, are we called? Let's look at three answers to this question.
We are called sons and daughters according to 1 John 3:1. To be called a son or a daughter of God is to be given a new identity. Though we were once separated and isolated from God, he has now drawn near to us in Jesus and invited us to know him as our Father. In this great act of love, God speaks worth, value, and meaning over us. He calls us out of darkness and invites us to encounter the radiance of His glory, His marvelous and uncreated light.
We are called to Love according to Luke 10:27. When we encounter the unspeakable joy of being called a child of God, we are invited to respond to God in loving gratitude. One primary way we do this is through the act of worship. We offer God our sincere gratitude and thanksgiving for the love He showed us and continues to freely give us. Yet, we also respond to His love by sharing it with the people God has placed in our lives. What does it mean to love your neighbor? In part, it is as simple as extending the dignity and worth you have received from God to everyone you encounter. In a world that often tells us "you are worthless," Christ invites us to tell others through word and action that "you are beloved by the King of kings and Lord of lords."
We are called to mission according to Isaiah 12:4. If you are a disciple of Christ, you have been given a mission. As we've seen above, this mission is simple: love. When Isaiah invites us to proclaim the exalted name of the Lord, we are telling the world that the Lord is good and filled with great love for everyone he has created. You may not think of it this way, but you are living as a missionary every day that you choose to deny yourself and live for the sake of others. When you make yet another plate of mac & cheese for hungry little mouths, when you go out of your way to publicly affirm and build up a coworker, or when you give up vacation time to care for a sick loved one, you are participating in the mission of God in the world. God takes our small gifts of love and sacrifice, insignificant as they may seem, and uses them to advance His Kingdom in the world.
Our Prayer: Father help us to see that all of us are called to be conduits of your love in the earth, and are called to be ambassadors of your Kingdom. Amen.
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Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
and Independent Travel Agent "Travel by Todd"
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
and Independent Travel Agent "Travel by Todd"
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