SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/15/2024 8:03 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-3 “Remember Your Calling”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Message of the verses: “according to the power
of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to
our works, but according
to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from
all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ
Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel,”
I think that it is good that I quote the last
paragraph from my previous SD in order to keep the flow of thought going.
“God’s
sovereignly designed salvation, and He sovereignly initiates, sustains, and
completes salvation. He has forgiven us,
justified us, and delivered us from sin and Satan, from death and hell. In every sense and in every tense—past,
present, and future—God is our Savior.” (MacArthur’s
Commentary)
MacArthur
then goes on to write “That is a major theme in the pastoral letters. The Almighty is frequently called Savior (1
Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4), as is Jesus (2 Tim. 1:10; Titus
1:4; 2:13; 3:6). Likewise, the saving
work of God in Christ is presented together in several places (1 Tim. 2:3-6; 4:10;
2 Tim. 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7).”
It
is the God who has saved us who also has called us with, or to, a holy
calling. Now think about that truth for
a moment that is calling is holy. I
realize that believers sin and therefore do not feel holy all of the time, but
the truth is we are holy and not because of us but because of the fact that God
sees us as being in Christ which means that He sees us perfectly as Christ is
perfect. MacArthur adds “Paul is not
speaking of God’s calling unbelievers to repentance and salvation but of His
effectual, saving call of believers, those who have been saved, to holy living
and, ultimately, to eternal and perfect holiness (cf. 1 John 3:2).” “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it
has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will
be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” 1 John 3:2).
It really does not take a new believer to realize
that the Lord did not save us according to our works but by His grace (Eph.
2:8-9). Neither has He called us to live
according to our works, but according to His own purpose (the plan) and grace (the
means of operating the plan). MacArthur
writes “Just as that inexplicable truth is the foundation of the saving gospel,
so it also is the foundation of God’s sustenance of those He has saved. He will keep all the elect until they reach
glory. Jesus made clear that the divine
purpose, working through divine grace, would reach complete fulfillment. He promises,
37 "All that the Father gives Me will come
to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 “For I
have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent
Me. 39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise
it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who
beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the
last day." 44 “No one
can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up
on the last day” (John 6:37-40, 44).”
Spiritual
meaning for my Life Today: To remember that it was Jesus alone who caused
me to be born-again, and that is something that I am eternally grateful for.
My
Steps of Faith for Today: Remember “For we are His workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would
walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). I truly
believe that God has in eternity past called me to write Spiritual Diaries so
that the Holy Spirit of God can send the around the world. This is done for His glory!
12/15/2024 8:32 AM
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