What Is Your Divine Calling?
January 15, 2023
What Is Your Divine Calling?
By Brooke Holt
“Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns one God, now and forever. Amen.” The Collect, Book of Common Prayer
God has a divine calling for your life. Do you know that and believe that? As a child of God, you are called to “shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory”. What a privilege! Today’s Collect implores the Lord to illumine your life with his light, the very light that Jesus came to shine into this world.
And why are you entrusted with such a calling and privilege? Is it so that your neighbors can admire you, your co-workers will cater to all your requests, or that your children would obey you? No – this divine calling has been placed upon you that the Kingdom of God may be built through you. When the light of Christ shines in your life, others will see that light and be drawn to it. It may be that they recognize you live differently than others. It could be that you attend church on Sundays instead of meeting friends to play golf or tennis. It may be that your work ethic sets you apart from your co-workers. You don’t compromise or cut corners. Or it may be that your children see you up each morning reading the Bible.
The opportunity to shine the light of Christ into this world varies from person to person. Yet, the light is the same. It is divine light that breaks through the darkness of this world. It is a light that reveals truth and exposes the darkness of evil. Light illuminates the hidden things and clearly shows the way before you. Most importantly, it is a light that comes from Jesus Christ and not oneself.
Through the outpouring of his Holy Spirit, the Lord would illumine your life with the light of his Son. He will use you to build his kingdom here on the earth and then in heaven. Will you receive that light, reflect it, and become an instrument of leading others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?
Reflection:
You are to shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory. What a glorious image! Do you see this radiance in God’s people and in yourself? How can you become more radiant with his glory? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Recommended Resource:
Jesus’ great commission to his apostles after his resurrection was to go into all the world to preach, teach, and baptize in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From the very beginning, baptism has been understood as the doorway into this new kind of family. Explore what Jesus expects of this new family that finds its origin and purpose in him. The baptized are called into a new life of faith. From passages in Matthew to the shining examples of faith in our passage from John, Waters of Baptism is a helpful resource for those seeking the sacrament of baptism or those who want a deeper understanding of their faith. This six week study will help us understand the importance of baptismal living.
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