THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD

THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD

Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phi 3:14 I press toward THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

I cannot recall when my attention was first drawn to this portion of scripture. It has been many years, and was probably a part of one of those gradual processes of development similar to the Biblical "Here a little, and there a little." There have been many of those "slowly developing" truths in my lifetime. I treasure every one of them. Many individuals have participated, unknowingly, in the formation of several of the gems of my life, by just a passing thought or a word spoken in due season. Two men in particular (Walter Swier and John Lake) played predominant roles in provoking my studies along certain lines. They seemed to be especially led of the Lord to drop thoughts into my life at exactly the right time for me to build around and upon what they had said to me. God has been so very good to Pearl and me.

It seems almost needless to point out that not every Blood-bought Christian will develop at the same rate as another Christian. Some people simply put more effort and time into their walk with the Lord than others do, and consequently live a more victorious life, and receive much more enjoyment from it.

All Christians are "building" upon the foundation known as "Salvation through the Blood of Jesus", but they are NOT building at the same rate. There can be several determining factors in our rate of building our lives on that which the Lord has provided for the welfare of our soul.

Our love for the Lord will be one of the chief determining factors in our progress toward Christian Excellence. We will MAKE time for that which we LOVE.

When I was a teenager, a minister told a story from the pulpit, which helped me to get a "sense of direction" in my Christian walk. The story was about a young girl who felt she had a "call" to do Missionary work. She excitedly told her mother about it, but her mother was not as enthusiastic about it as the girl was. The Mother said, "Well, it serves you right. If you hadn't been sitting around with that Bible on your lap so much, you wouldn't have gotten that "call" to be a Missionary." Her assessment was "more truth than poetry."

People who put more into their walk with the Lord will get more in return for their efforts. The Bible tells us that if we "draw nigh" to Him, He will "draw nigh" to us.

Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Here is the crux of the whole matter. Too many Christians have had difficulty making up their minds what they want to do with their experience in Jesus Christ. Too many of us have not really SURRENDERED our lives to Him. It stands to reason that we will not make as much progress in Spiritual things as others who have made a more complete surrender to Him will be making.

The Bible tells of a promise made to folks who take their Christianity seriously.

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared (had great respect for) the LORD spoke (took counsel) often one to another (Church attendance): and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought (reckoned-- patterned their lives) upon his name.
Mal 3:17 AND THEY SHALL BE MINE, saith the LORD of hosts, IN THAT DAY WHEN I MAKE UP (hand pick) MY JEWELS; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 THEN (after the jewels are sorted out) SHALL YE RETURN (look around you), AND DISCERN BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED, BETWEEN HIM THAT SERVETH GOD (today) AND HIM THAT SERVETH HIM NOT (today).

Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.