Vocatio | Calling

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfil every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” - 2Thessalonians 1: 11-12

The persecution of Christians has occurred since the 1st century. In the first passage of 2Thessalonians, Paul encouraged Thessalonians to endure the persecution and sufferings. We know, every human being – since Adam and Eve, the Thessalonians in the 1st century or we in 21st century – undergoes pain, distress and hardship. The Bible tells us that suffering makes people’s faith grow more and more.

Paul taught us to endure the suffering by focusing on the goal. What is a Christian’s goal? It is to walk worthy of the calling of God (verse 11). How do we be worthy of his calling? By the grace of God and Lord Jesus Christ, it gives us the power to resolve for good and act by the faith (verse 11).

Paul said that if we trust in the power of God, we could not simply let the life flows. We have to make a decision firmly of what we want. It is like a blind man Bartimaeus from Jericho (Mark 10). Long story short, when Jesus met him he asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus knew exactly what Bartimaeus wanted, didn’t he? But he asked him anyway. He wanted him to decide and utter it. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” He made a decision.

Brother and sister, to decide something is one story, to act accordingly is another story. For the act of faith, we should learn from the action of the bleeding woman in the Bible. At any cost, she touched Jesus’ cloak and was healed (Mark 5).

Reflect on Paul’s letter, Bartimaeus and the bleeding woman’s story, our part to do is to resolve our resolution in faith and take the act of faith in God’s power that given freely by the grace of God and Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the result of this way of life or thinking? It is that God and Jesus be glorified in us, and we be glorified in Him (verse 12). This work is done by God actually, not us. Grace of God and Lord Jesus Christ give the power to our faith and work together with our decisions and willingness. Then it will lead to God and Jesus be glorified in us and we in him.

Dear brothers and sisters, some questions for our reflection today: Do we know what God’s calling for us? Do we need to resolve something to walk worthy in his calling? What acts of faith do we need to do? Even if tomorrow looks dark and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, what acts of faith do we need to do?

Brothers and sisters, let the grace and power of God and Lord Jesus Christ lead us to fulfil his calling. To God be the glory. God bless us.

  

 

Reflection on 2Thessalonians 1: 1-12 by Veralin Uneputty

(Listen to the Podcast here)