Walk Worthy of Your Calling

It all begins with the message of the cross. Paul said, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). Then he added: "It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:21b-24).

Then Paul went on to state exactly who God calls: "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord'" (1 Cor. 1:26-31).

Give glory to the Lord because He chose you. You are not deserving of what God has given you in any way. Still God chose you and called you to Himself. He calls sinners to repentance and faith, and to justification and salvation. He calls saints to be sanctified and holy, to be fearless and faithful, to be an encourager, to serve and minister, and to persevere. One day He will even call His people home to heaven.

Jesus shed His precious blood and died on the cross for you, for your forgiveness, for your salvation. If you were the only person in the world, Jesus still would have come and died for you. He loves you that much. As a believer, He has called you to live a life of righteousness in Him.

While in prison in Rome, Paul wrote, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" (Eph. 4:1). God has called you to repentance and salvation. God has called you to a life of faith and sanctification, becoming conformed to the image of Christ. "Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" (v. 1b). Live your life for Jesus. Follow His call wherever it leads. Walk in the power of the Spirit and fulfill God’s purpose for your life. Amen.