I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1

"What's your calling?" an older lady asked a young man about to enter into the work force. "Oh, I'll make my money programming computers, Madam," he replied.

"I didn't ask you how you'd make a living, I asked what your calling is," insisted the lady.

There is a difference, you know. One's calling has a heightened, almost sacred ring to it. It signifies a purpose for existence, a mission.

You have a calling. It isn't identical to your job; it supersedes it. It encompasses work all right, but also life itself. It is expressed in living out a twofold relationship: The first is that you are united to God. Christ has paid for sin that would separate you from Him. Thus, you can live reflecting your union with Him. Second, you are united in Him with other believers. By the Holy Spirit's power your life can demonstrate a union with every believing Christian. This is your calling. God's grace makes your life sacred in Christ Jesus. No matter what you are going through, your calling is to reflect your union with God and your solidarity with His people. It is a sacred calling indeed. It prompts us to live in conformity with it.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord God, to live worthy of this noble calling; in Jesus' name. Amen.

(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Kings 13-14    James 5

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