Living a Life Worthy of the Calling

Reflection:  As we have said before, one of the reasons for reading the bible through the two year Moravian bible format is that it gives us a chance to see the whole story through the lens of the Old and New Testament, and also through the Psalms, which also record the relationship between the people of God (Israel) and God.  Often we will see a common thread in all 3 readings although we never try to force it.  And today is such an occasion. 

In the Psalm, we see the Psalmist celebrating the defeat of Israel’s adversaries.  Many believe this to be the Babylonians, who conquered and deported the Jews around 586 B.C., which history books confirm.  The Psalmist longs for the day when the righteous will flourish like a palm tree and once again be planted in the courts of God.  We that about 50 years later the Persians would conquer Babylon, and King Cyrus would allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. 

Secondly, Jeremiah is the second of the latter prophets, and moving back in time tells of the time when God would send Babylonians from the North to punish them for their idolatry.  His sees the image of a boiling pot that would be tilted from the North and be poured out on Israel.  Then he reflects on how Israel had forgotten its love for God that it had as a young bride. (This is the same metaphor that Paul uses for the Church in Ephesians, and John uses in Revelation 2 as well).  Though God had done amazing things for Israel in delivering them from the Egyptians and conquering the Promised Land, the people had forgotten these things and were exchanging the truth of God for a lie. 

Now we fast forward to Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.  This could be one of the earliest New Testament letters recorded.  Some have argued it be as early as 50-51 AD, as they reconstruct the historical succession of events cross referencing Paul’s missionary efforts and trials from the Luke/Acts account. The Thessalonian church, named after the capital city in Macedonia (the same region as the book of Philippi), was made up of both Jews and Gentiles.  Paul started the mission by preaching in the synagogue on three successive Sabbaths, but also some prominent Greek women and Greek proselytes (those training to convert to Judaism) were part of the church.  Paul had to leave quickly because of the intense persecution of the Jews there. 

Paul says it this way, “¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.”

Paul speaks warmly and affectionately of his relationship with the Thessalonians.  He says, “¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

Although many believers don’t today face much persecution as a modern day believer in America, there are those that believe that it will be harder and harder to live according to a Christian worldview and be a follower of Jesus in the days to come.  Paul’s admonition can apply to us today, when he says to “live a life worthy of the calling Jesus has given you”, so you may be ready when he appears it great and promised glory. He also speaks of them as his glory and crown, since he was responsible for bringing them the Good News.  I don’t think he is saying this in an arrogant way, but in the same way a father takes pride in their children because he loves them so much.

My challenge for you today is how is God calling you to live a life worthy of your calling in Christ Jesus?  Is there an area in your life where you have allowed sin to creep into your life, or you have gotten so comfortable with God’s grace that you have rationalized or minimalized some behaviors not befitting of your calling.  Or on the other hand are there those whom God has called you to witness to of the new life in Christ?  Who will be your glory and crown when Jesus comes back? 

We all have a Paul in our lives who led us to Christ, and we should be thankful for that person or persons.  I know when I was in high school I had 2-3 people, who played a huge role in sharing the Gospel with me not only with words, but their very lives.  We are all busy people, but God calls us to invest in other’s lives so that they may not only hear but see the Gospel in real life.  Pray about these things and allow God to lead you by His Spirit.  He will accomplish His good work in you!  Amen. 

Psalm 92:9-15

⁹ For surely your enemies, Lord,
    surely your enemies will perish;
    all evildoers will be scattered.
¹⁰ You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
    fine oils have been poured on me.
¹¹ My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
    my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.

¹² The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
¹³ planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ They will still bear fruit in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
¹⁵ proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Jeremiah 1:8-2:19 - for an introduction to the book of Jeremiah see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jeremiah

⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

⁹ Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

¹¹ The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

¹² The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

¹³ The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”

“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”

¹⁴ The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. ¹⁵ I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
    in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
    and against all the towns of Judah.
¹⁶ I will pronounce my judgments on my people
    because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
    and in worshiping what their hands have made.

¹⁷ “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. ¹⁸ Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Israel Forsakes God

2 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

“This is what the Lord says:

“‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
    how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the wilderness,
    through a land not sown.
³ Israel was holy to the Lord,
    the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devoured her were held guilty,
    and disaster overtook them,’”
declares the Lord.

⁴ Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob,
    all you clans of Israel.

⁵ This is what the Lord says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
    that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
    and became worthless themselves.
⁶ They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
    who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
    through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and utter darkness,
    a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
⁷ I brought you into a fertile land
    to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
    and made my inheritance detestable.
⁸ The priests did not ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
    the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
    following worthless idols.

⁹ “Therefore I bring charges against you again,”
declares the Lord.
    “And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
¹⁰ Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look,
    send to Kedar and observe closely;
    see if there has ever been anything like this:
¹¹ Has a nation ever changed its gods?
    (Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God
    for worthless idols.
¹² Be appalled at this, you heavens,
    and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
¹³ “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
    the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
    broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
¹⁴ Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?
    Why then has he become plunder?
¹⁵ Lions have roared;
    they have growled at him.
They have laid waste his land;
    his towns are burned and deserted.
¹⁶ Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
    have cracked your skull.
¹⁷ Have you not brought this on yourselves
    by forsaking the Lord your God
    when he led you in the way?
¹⁸ Now why go to Egypt
    to drink water from the Nile?
And why go to Assyria
    to drink water from the Euphrates?
¹⁹ Your wickedness will punish you;
    your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
    how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
    and have no awe of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

1 Thessalonians 2:10-20

¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.¹³ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶ in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. ¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. ¹⁹ For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

Turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die? Ezekiel 33:11

John the baptizer said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Luke 3:11

Eternal Creator, we confess that we do not always serve you as we ought. Give us your strength and lead us to walk in your ways. Help us to help those around us in times of great need. In your service, we pray. Amen.