By Him Who Calls

Friday, ‎August 4, ‎2023 Good morning, Lord Verse of the Day: Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ? —John 4:30 Memory verse: Philippians 4:8 ►Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Today's reading: PSALM 66-67 ROMANS 7 Not By Works…But by Him Who Calls

Paul laments over Israel because they had refused the message of the gospel in Romans 9 but there is a great statement for us to enjoy and live. He makes the statement that the ones who are children of the promise…the ones chosen by the one who chooses…not by works but by Him who calls. This brings to mind the most loved scripture of Romans 8:28 &29 where we are told that God works all things to the good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. If you are reading this I believe it is not by accident. We are the ones who have been called according to His purpose. We are the ones who are to be conformed into the image of His firstborn so we could be one of the many ‘brethren’, (both men and women), who are adopted into the family of God and are co-heirs, Romans 8:17, with Christ to the Kingdom. We are co-heirs with Him it says if we share with Him in His sufferings in order to share in His glory. That is a mouthful. Hebrews 12:4 says we have not resisted to the point of shedding blood in our resisting sin. This hits seriously deep in our conscious minds. We do not suffer much. So what do we say to all this? The answer lies in obedience. Are we really obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit? If we are obedient then we are exactly where we are to be. Called by the one who predestined us to be His children where we are in the kingdom. We have been placed where we are to be who God wants us to be. Is there anything wrong with that? No, there is nothing sinful or weak about being whom and where God wants us to be. Keep on being obedient and you will be obedient to the death. It may not be death at the hands of a group of Christ hating enemies but Jesus will still come and get you just as He said He would- in His joy... I took communion to a friend who is a terminal cancer patient and she was weary but ready and she is exactly where she is supposed to be. I am much blessed to know her. She knows and has been obedient to Him who calls… …because He loves us... Father in Heaven, You are all we need to know...Blessed be Your name. Loving and caring and gentle God, In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen