Are You Called?

If you are saved – yes, you are called. With a holy calling.  If you haven’t found your calling yet, you haven’t spent time with your Bible.
 
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV)

When we spend time reading in prayer, we find what God has in mind for us – and each follower of Christ has a calling.  While some are similar in nature, none are exactly the same.  Some have multiple jobs. Paul wrote, to all of us, and to specific people:

For the which cause 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 that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)

A loving letter from a preacher to a young man he’s mentoring. We can find the same today in many churches – can we find it in our own? Do we expect it only from our preachers? From men who have a way with words?

I pray not.

Every adult in our church can provide guidance for new Christians – especially for teens. And every adult is needed to do so for so many reasons. We are admonished to do so.

For the men: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. (Titus 2:2 KJV)

Truthfully, guys, are you strong in all of these qualities? Are they apparent to the teens in the congregation?

For the ladies, Paul even explains the expected results:  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:3-5 KJV)

Are we gals living these qualities as well as teaching them? Teen years are difficult. They can be more difficult for a Christian teen determined to respond to peer pressure in a Godly manner. The same holds true for all new Christians as they move from newly baptized and grow with Christ. The active support of these ‘aged’ men and women should be available to them without the asking.

Why do all of this? Among the many answers Paul has written, here are two from the same books:

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV)


Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13 KJV)

How about a prayer for those who answered His calling:

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:  (2 Thessalonians 1:11 KJV)