CALLED BY PREDESTINATION

'Called by predestination' is a term that interferes with human free-will. Today's Scripture tells us that it is only those whom God predestined that He called. Our call is a mystery because it was done under the sovereign influence of the Divine, yet the choice belongs to the sphere of human freedom. In other words, ahead of time, God chose us as the 'called', but from the view point of His glory, He planned it in such a way that we are to freely respond by means of salvation.

Reference: Romans 8:30 New International Version (NIV) 'And those he predestined, he also called...'

Here the Bible is showing us the touchstone by which God established our calling. It was planned by God before the foundations of the earth. So we have no control over the calling because we were chosen by God before He made the call. We did not choose Him (see John 15:16). The Bible says, 'Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes' (Ephesians 1:4 NIV). In other words, it is a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of His own purpose and grace. This calling outshines all trust in our own doings and performances and turns us to Christ's sacrifice and His finished work alone. The calling purges us from dead works to serve the living and true God.

Our calling is holy, high and heavenly and I will expatiate on the three. The Bible says, 'He has saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time' (2 Timothy 1:9 NIV). By predestination, God saved us and called us to a holy calling. This calling is the substance of our Christian life because we walk by His divine will, not our own will.

When men receive a call from people in a higher rank and position of authority, it gladdens their heart that they communicated with such personalities and most times, they go ahead to share the experience with others. Others cheer them and see it as a fantastic privilege. Even more than cheering, when the news is shared among their fans and supporters, it brings them to their feet in acclamation. Now think about this call from heaven. This one is a calling from God, the Creator of the universe. Its a call arranged from heaven as well as supreme call. You've been called with a heavenly calling, because you hail from Zion, a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 3:1 assures that we share in this heavenly calling. It reads, 'Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest' (NIV). "Heavenly calling" simply means a call from above, and there's a vital instruction attached to the calling, which is 'fix your thought on Jesus'. As you do, your heart will be refined and focused on heavenly realities, such that the calling will elevate your hopes and regulate your choices and desires.

The last description of this call is that it is a high calling. In Philippians 3:14, Paul said, 'I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' The 'NKJV' calls it the high calling. It is "the upward call" of God in Christ Jesus and it has a goal and a prize attached. The goal is the ultimate reward for faithful service and the prize is to be with Christ at the end of time realm. So Paul simply writes about the goal of pursuing our purpose in Christ through service until we meet with Him after this life. Therefore, we must focus on how we can serve Him and live for Him now and in times ahead until we meet with Him.

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:28-29; Ephesians 1:5,11; 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 2:10.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for your call as you predestined. I'm grateful for the awareness of Christ and the lifelong process of becoming more and more like Him. Thank you for the grace and ability to maintain the singular focus of pressing toward the prize of the high calling in Christ. By your Spirit, I serve your purpose in my generation in sincere submission and with Godly exuberance, and by your grace, I have confident hope and assurance of meeting and spending eternity with you, in Jesus' Name, Amen!