(Photo: Timothy Barlin/Unsplash)
“I press this on your heart, I who am a prisoner because I serve the Lord: Let your way of life be in accordance with the calling you have received from God.” – Ephesians 4:1
We are different from each other and so is the plan that God has for each of our lives.
It is very human that you look at others and compare yourself to them. It is also interesting that one always compares “upwards” and not “downwards”. You notice what you don’t have, but forget about what the Lord has entrusted to you in his grace.
Our gifts differ from each other and so does the calling that God has placed on our lives.
John the Baptist was a pioneer. It was his task to make the people aware of the Messiah-King who would soon appear.
I doubt that John was sometimes jealous and envious of the attention that Jesus received.
Jesus’ calling was also different from what John had to do.
Jesus had to communicate the principles of the Kingdom of God, which was about to break into this world, to people and show them how one can live in the midst of struggles with conviction and with surrender.
Jesus came to the world to lay down his life for people who will not inherit the heavenly glory on their own merits. Although John also died in an unnatural way, it was different from the meaning that Jesus’ death carried.
John did not rise, but Jesus did to confirm the victory over sin and death.
All the Lord asks of us is to be faithful to the calling he has placed on our lives.
It may not be as glorious as that of others. Your face may not grace the cover of a glossy magazine. People don’t ask you for your signature.
However, this does not mean that you are inferior.
All that the Lord will one day ask of us is whether we have done what He asked of us.
Look for the applause of heaven rather than being forced to do something to which the Lord has not called you.
The applause of people is wonderful. Many long for it, but it is granted to few.
However, this does not mean that your life has no meaning.
May you find a great deal of satisfaction and resignation in the knowledge that the Lord is also on his way with you in this.
- ToekomsVenster is a daily message to equip individual believers with practical faith skills. Small group accompaniments, DVDs and functional sermon sketches are available from Drienie ([email protected]) or visit www.toekomsvenster.co.za
