Called by God, 8

 

~ The Obedience Call As His Ambassador ~

 

Series Note  ~  In this set of postings we will look at the calling of God from three aspects.  First there is the Universal Call to all mankind for salvation.  Second there is the call that all Christians receive—the Obedience Call.  Finally, there is a call which all Christians receive, but sadly few accept, the Career Call. 

 

In the first post in this series, we considered the Universal Call.  In posts 2-5 we look at the new responsibilities for Christians who have accepted the Obedience Call.  In posts 6-12 we examine the new roles of Christians who have accepted the Obedience Call. 

 

Comment  ~  An ambassador is one who represents another person or another country in another location or another country.  In our last post in this series, we observed the fact that we are citizens of heaven.  While on earth we are ambassadors for our new Master and for His country – heaven. 

 

Scripture  ~  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). 

 

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I [the Apostle Paul] am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:14-20).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Conscience, 8

 

~ Forgotten Conscience ~

 

Series Note ~ The conscience plays a crucial role in human behavior.  The Scripture has much to say about our conscience.  In these early posts of this series, we are looking at various Biblical Descriptions of our conscience. 

 

Scripture ~ While there is no passage (that I am aware of) that specifically states we can subdue our conscience to the point of forgetting about it, the concept is clear throughout many passages of Scripture. 

 

Comment ~ The conscience is our inner monitor of both our thoughts and actions.  A forgotten conscience is one that has been so ignored that it no longer tugs at our inner morality. 

 

In a normal Christian it is the Holy Spirit that reminds, reprimands, and leads us to correct our thinking and our action.  The Spirit is on the good side and speaking to us about our new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15) versus our old nature (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9).

 

Importance ~ One day a key component of God’s judgement of your life will be in regard to how well you paid attention to your conscience.

 

“(Their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Romans 2:15b-16).

 

Solution ~ The key is to be sensitive to your conscience (rather than being insensitive leading to a forgotten conscience). 

 

“We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Binary, 21

 

~ Binary: God or The World ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 in this series.]

 

Scripture  ~  “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.  Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).

 

Comment  ~  You must make a choice.  By not choosing you are making the wrong choice of the world.  You cannot serve both!

 

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

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