Living the Life You Have Been Given
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SCRIPTURE:
17 “Only let each person lead the life[c] that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.”
I Corinthians 7:17, ESV
OBSERVATIONS:
In the middle of this discussion on marriage, sex, divorce and singleness Paul gives us these verses about remaining as you are. What’s behind that? Paul is showing us that God can and does work in whatever situation you find yourself in and though you may wish that God authored your life differently, he is nevertheless at work. Rather than fight against God because of discontentment with our lives Paul tells us to “remain with God” and seek to honor him with the life he has given us. There are life situations that we face that were unexpected that we are called to live through. God is the one who assigns us where we are living, and we are to receive it as a gift and this is an act of obedience and faith.
APPLICATION:
This passage is not embracing a theology of resignation or to be passive as we face the challenges of our current life situation. Paul talks about this in terms of “living as you are called.” This calling is not talking about your vocation, it is talking about your identity in Christ and how you live your life in response to that. In other places Paul refers to walking in a manner worthy of your calling to express what Christ-like living looks like (Eph 4:1, Phil 1:27, Col 1:9-12). The question that I and every follower of Christ need to consider in relationship to these verses is, “how can I honor God in the situation I am in?”, rather than the situation you wish you were in. I have at times wrestled with this because I want to fix my situation but often it is not in my capacity to do so. The reoccurring question often is “Why am I living through this situation?” Paul is stating who you are in Christ will guide you in how you will live though a life situation because it is you calling. Danny Silk writes, “A culture of honor is created as a community of people learns to discern and receive people in their God-given identities.”[1] Living out your calling even in life situations that are hard and difficult states that you courageously honor people as being people whose identity is that they are sons and daughters of God. In my case my need for justice on my terms does not need to be satisfied as much as I need to honor. The Corinthians thought to live their calling was to rally around a significant personality or to be circumcised to gain a position or a title. Who I am in Christ as I live with honor is a result of me being connected to Christ as Paul was a “bondservant” to Christ. Life flows through honor as I live out my calling staying connected to Christ and not seeking any shortcuts that would derail me from fully being obedient to Christ! Jesus help me not to place my identity in what I do but rather in who I am in YOU!
PRAYER:
“Oh Lord, may I in every season embrace fully where you have placed me never making comparisons with others on their journey. Let my satisfaction be found in my relationship with You! Jesus, I desire to live out my assignment as a grandfather, husband, father, pastor and friend knowing that none of these are my identity, but they are evidence of the way that you have shaped me and my character. Lord, may I live in Honor in such a way that I live in Your Presence. I pray this in name of Jesus Christ, Amen!”
Footnotes:
[1] Danny Silk, Culture of Honor: Sustaining A Supernatural Culture (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers Inc., 2009). p 26.
Resources:
Silk, Danny. Culture of Honor: Sustaining a Supernatural Culture. Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers Inc., 2009.