Last week we learned that we are
citizens of the Kingdom of God. We are citizens of the most
wonderful, upright and glorious Kingdom that has ever been and that
ever will be. And we have the privilege of sharing the benefits of
this wonderful Kingdom. We just need to live in the reality of what
is true of us. His Kingdom is our home and therefore we should
focus our attention on our home and not on a world that is not our
home anymore. We should focus on Him, the centre of His Kingdom and
become more and more like Him every day. We are called to be
saints, we are called into the fellowship with Jesus Christ:
"To the church of God which is
at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints, with all who in every place
call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." 1
Corinthians 1:2
"God is faithful, by Whom
you were called into the fellowship of His Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:9
We are called to be saints, to
fellowship with Jesus. 'Saint' in this context is the Greek word
'Hagios' and according to Thayer Lexicon, it means 'likeness of
nature with the Lord' and 'to be different from the world'. This
passage therefore says that we are called to have the same likeness
as the Lord and that we are different from the world. It
corresponds exactly with what we have been discussing. We were
recreated in the likeness of God and now God calls us to
act in His likeness now. We need to act as though this is
true. In other words our thoughts need to realign with what is true
of us according to God's Word.
We are also called to fellowship
with Jesus. Synonyms for this word 'fellowship' include
companionship, camaraderie, association etc. In other words we are
called to have companionship with Jesus, we are called to be His
friends, His comrades. We are called to associate with Him and
because we associate with Him, all that He has is ours too. He is
like our Big Brother, always watching out for us. He is the One
looking after us. And when we walk as saints, comrades of the Lord
Jesus Christ, then we come short in no gift:
"I thank my God always
concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by
Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all
utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was
confirmed in you, so that you come short in no
gift." 1 Corinthians 1:4-7
We come short in no gift. This word
gift is 'charisma' in Greek and according to Thayer Lexicon it
means 'extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and
enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which
is due to the power of Divine Grace operating in their souls by the
Holy Spirit." Wow. In other words, in our walk with Christ, serving
His church and expanding His Kingdom, we will come short in no
extraordinary power operating within us by His Spirit. Once again
this confirms with what we have been studying. God is within us, in
His fullness and He wants to work through us. We should just be
available and allow Him to move through us. Then the gifts we need
in any given situation for His Kingdom, will be available to us.
All glory to Him!
You are called to be a saint and to
fellowship with Christ. You are called to make a difference in His
Kingdom. He will be with you with might and power.
Thank you Father that You called
us. We feel so privileged and special. Thank you for Your special
grace and favour towards us. We really appreciate it and want to
walk in the fullness of all that You came to bless us with.
Amen