Crosspoint Family,
Take a look at this passage (ps......I know how easy it is to jump over the passage and get to “the point”.....but please, really read this passage):
1Cor. 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
1Cor. 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
1Cor. 1:30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
A couple of things to note from this passage.....first, as we considered yesterday it’s formulaic to see “calling” (v. 26) and holiness (“sanctification” in v. 30). Calling without holiness is a farce. Holiness without calling.....isn’t holiness at all. Calling and holiness go together!! Beauty!! Second, there’s something REALLY encouraging in this passage regarding holiness (sanctification). Verse 30 says that Christ Jesus became to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. He called (v. 26) and chose (v. 27) the least likely to succeed....the weak, the foolish, the low and despised and the things that aren’t to bring down the proud and haughty and the supposedly “well” by becoming what we so desperately lack......our holiness. God called and chose a bunch of sick folk to make well and in so doing to make the supposedly well “sick” with judgment. He does this so that no one has any room for boasting.....that is of course unless we’re boasting in the Lord.
This passage is a veritable feast. These are just a few observations that connect in some ways to our time in the word together yesterday.
Something I want to ask of you is to consider your various callings. Do you have your callings in view? Your Lazarus call from death to life? Your call to mission work maybe? Your call to be a husband or wife? Your call to full time ministry? Your call to be a parent? Your call to serve God faithfully and aromatically in your business? Your call to be an employee that works as unto the Lord? Your call to teach your kids at home? Your call to deacon ministry or worship ministry? Your call to small group shepherding? Your call to children’s ministry?
As you consider your various calls.....all of which fuel us to some degree.......consider if ANY of them have become primary above your call into the family of God, your Lazarus call. This is REALLY easy to do and know that even a noble call to be a husband or parent or deacon or elder can and will languish if it’s placed as your primary call. These calls, although important, are to be secondary or tertiary or even further behind your call to be a worshipper of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Whatever you are.....however you serve.....whatever you do......the greatest thing you’ll ever be is a child of the Living God through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Enjoy that. Enjoy Him. Consider Him.
Ben McGraw
