Where You Were Called (1 Corinthians 7)

1 Corinthians 7 verse 17 says:

Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches.

Pre-Christian experiences are not all bad. Every believer was once first a citizen of the kingdom of the darkness before becoming born again into the kingdom of light.

From the world we have been called, saved and redeemed by the perfect work of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. God will save us where we are. Wherever we find ourselves in life, we are not too far from the reach of His arm of salvation!

The context of the verse above is marriage. Paul writes that if you get saved and your wife or husband is not saved, then you don’t need to go and divorce him / her. Who know, Paul writes, your life and words may even lead to them getting saved, whereas divorcing them certainly won’t.

Whilst this has been written about marriage, I believe the same can be true of other circumstances we find ourselves in when we get born again. Whilst there will be some radical changes the Holy Spirit will convict us of, other facets of our life can undoubtedly be redeemed in salvation.

• Where you work – You don’t necessarily need to quit your job (although it depends on the work you do) when you get saved. Let your workmates see the change and the light of Christ in your new life!
• Where you live – God does move people, but don’t make a sudden decision to move on unless it is God. If God saved you where you are, He might have plans to use you there too!
• What you are good at – Some of your interests can be redeemed by Christ too. Are you musical? A tech-geek? Good with your hands? A great networker? Able to design? God can use it!
• What you like – You have tastes, you have style – some of it God may change, but its ok to be you. God made you and will use you! Cookie-cutter Christianity is not Spirit led Christianity!

The fact remains, when we give our lives to Christ changes will follow. Some radical, some internal, some quickly, some over time. But God can also redeem much of where you are when you surrendered to Him. It makes the kingdom of God as rich and varied on earth as it is in heaven.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for saving me. Thank you for redeeming me, all of me! I ask you to lead me by your Spirit to discern what in me you want to change, what you want to redeem. I ask you to use me Lord. In Jesus name, Amen