“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Dear Ones:
Paul wrote to the believers in Galatia a remarkable fact concerning his calling: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.” (1:15-16) Paul is speaking of God’s calling and purpose for his life being determined by God before he was born. Paul’s beginning was born the heart of God well before the point of his birth. We might think that this calling of God, extending back so far, was particular to Paul. It was, in that it was singular and precise, for there has never been another Apostle Paul. However, that which we read in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, brings to light our calling, and how far that goes back. In speaking of all the believers in Ephesus, and including all others, he wrote: “…According as he hath chosen us in Him (Christ), before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (1:4) Elsewhere, the Apostle declares that the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. In other words, there is no error in His calling, nor is there any minimizing of that calling, since it is from eternity, and was made in the wisdom and knowledge of God, in love. It is certainly, in part, the reason for which the Apostle Peter wrote: “Wherefore rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” (2 Peter 1:10) That which is evident concerning these truths is that, though we are limited in our understanding, and cannot grasp the magnitude of the privilege of belonging to Christ, yet we are to seek God that we should KNOW what His calling is, and the purpose of our lives. The question then becomes, “Can we seek, and believe, God for the unveiling, the revelation by the Spirit, of this specific calling and purpose?”
When the Lord Jesus told His disciples to wait for the realization of the promise of the Father, that being the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, there was a monumental thing that occurred. A mystery that had been hidden from before time began, was now about to be revealed to believers, specifically the members of the body of Christ, the church. The baptism of the Spirit resulted in the believer being baptized into Jesus Christ, so that all that was in Him, became theirs by faith. God, the Father, has done the utmost to persuade men that He loves them, but also, has provided for those who would believe, the utmost and completeness of spiritual blessings in Christ. One of those blessings is the “gift” of the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” of Christ. (Eph. 1:17) Jesus, before His death, and resurrection, told His disciples that the Comforter would come, being given by the Father, and that He would abide with them forever. He explained that the Spirit would “…teach you all things, and bring to remembrance whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Jn. 14:26) The Spirit of God’s ministry to, and through, the believer, would result in Him testifying, or proving and convincing, the believer, not only concerning His presence, but also of His leading. Lastly, the Lord taught them that the Spirit of truth, would guide them into all truth. He added: “He will show you things to come.” (Jn. 16:13) Jesus made it very clear that the Spirit of God who was to come at Pentecost, would be that One who would reveal to the disciples the way they should go, and what they should do. Is not this mighty, and yet, gracious Spirit of God, able to reveal to the believer the eternal calling of God, attesting to him or her of their spiritual gifts? The blessed Father waits to be sought for such.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to understand Thy calling, and purpose for us all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad