Called by God, 34of34

 ~ Some Lessons Learned ~

 

Introduction ~ Posts 1 – 21 (beginning on April 16, 2022) of this series looked at aspects of the Christian calling.  Specifically, we viewed 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. 

 

Beginning in post 22 we started looking at Biblical examples of God calling an individual. 

 

Scripture ~ “And He [Jesus] went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted.  And they came to Him.  Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, ‘Sons of Thunder’; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.  And they went into a house” (Mark 3:13-19).

 

Lessons (from this short passage) ~ Consider four obvious lessons. 

(1) “Called to Him those He Himself wanted.”  God in His sovereignty calls those who He elects. 

(2) “He appointed” – those He calls He appoints to specific tasks.

(3) “To have power” – those He calls He empowers.

(4) “Betrayed Him” – not all who are called follow through and finish strong.   

 

Comment ~ When God calls it is a serious and wonderful thing.  It often comes unexpectedly.  When God calls a decision must be made whether to accept and be obedient to His call on your life. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Conscience, 33of33

 ~ Summary: Conscience ~

 

Series Note ~ The conscience plays a crucial role in human behavior.  The Scripture has much to say about our conscience.  In posts 1—20 of this series, we looked at various descriptions of conscience.  In posts 21—25 we looked at the Big Four Emotional factors that have a very negative impact on our consciences.  Finally posts 26—32 looked at a few of the dangers related to the conscience. 

 

Summary ~ The teaching in Scripture about the human conscience is varied.  But one thing is very clear.  God endowed humans with a conscience to guide them regarding right and wrong. 

 

Choice ~ Through our actions our conscience can be extremely useful or it can be ignored to the point of little or no value. 

 

Best Solution ~ Allow your conscience to guide you as you seek to be increasingly close to God and His will for you. 

 

Scripture ~ “Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:17-21).

 

Additional Help ~ If you would like to understand the three main categories of the will of God consider obtaining the eBook: “GOD’S DESIRE: How To Please God” (https://books2read.com/GodsDesire).

 

This book contains two easy to grasp graphical models.  “The Christian Life Model” covers the basics and “The Christian Guidance Model” explains how to consistently make Godly decisions. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Contrast, 5

 ~ Contrast: The Father Speaking vs. Jesus Christ Speaking ~

 

Series Comment ~ The Scripture contains many contrasts.  In this series we look briefly at some of them.  Just like in our “Binary” series many of these contrasts represent a choice of this or that.

 

Scripture ~ “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4).

 

Comment ~ The third member of the Trinity also speaks to believers.

 

“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

 

“When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth… whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

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