Hope of Our Calling
Session 6
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Hope of Our Calling: Session 6
The world rarely recognizes what we do. That reminds me of a story of a missionary who travels far from modern conveniences to rural Africa and wins people to the Lord for many years. Eventually, he’s ready to retire, and he returns home on a ship. Also on this ship is the president of the United States. When the ship arrives in the U.S., there are crowds, media, and bands to welcome the president.
The missionary feels forgotten, and as he disembarks, he talks to God about how there was no welcome home for him but a huge welcome home for the president. And God replies, “But son, you are not home yet.”
1 Corinthians 15:52, 58 AMPCE1:
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].
Philippians 2:16 KJV:
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
The greatest thing you will ever do in your life is to help someone learn God’s Word, to get born again of God’s Spirit. What’s your purpose in life?
The abundant life has very little to do with financial abundance. Our focus should not be on temporary crowns, but eternal crowns. Our faithfulness to serve in love now, has no promise of material success or popular recognition but there will be something much better. Eternal rewards and crowns.
2 Corinthians 4:14–18 KJV:
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
What do we spend our time doing? We should abound in the work of the Lord.
When you can see the invisible, you can do the impossible.
1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV:
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Acts 20:24 KJV:
But none of these things [persecutions, troubles] move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Hebrews 10:23 KJV:
Let us hold fast the profession [confession] of our faith [hope] without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Hebrews 10:23 APNT:
And we should persist in the confession of our hope and we should not waver, for he is faithful who promised us.
Hebrews 10:24–25 KJV:
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Are you sure there’s no greater purpose in life than to live for the heavenly Father and to do His will? If you’re sure, then let’s move ahead with living our called-out purpose. We were bought with a price. Let’s be always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Footnote:
- Scripture quotations marked (AMPCE) taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) ↩︎
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