Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "A New Calling" Thursday, 20 March 2014
Read Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputes, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, 16 holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all. 18 In the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice with me.
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.--Philippians 2:12 (NRSV)
Shortly after celebrating my 75th birthday, I sensed a calling from God to become involved in an ecumenical prison ministry called Kairos. With significant reluctance — but with prayer — I eventually responded to the prodding of God’s Spirit and am now involved in ministry with three different correctional facilities. What a remarkable learning experience this has proved to be — beginning with the fact that God’s timing (kairos in Greek) is so very different from the time kept by the watch I wear on my wrist (chronos). While I have tried to serve God throughout my life, what a joy it is to know that we can be useful and usable at any age! Paul’s instructions in Philippians 2:12 apply to each of us individually. For me that means continuing to listen for and to obey God’s call on my time and resources. As a follower of Jesus I pray that all of us will find our calling from God. The list provided in Matthew 25 — feeding the hungry and thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick or imprisoned, or befriending the lonely — is a good place to start.
The Author: Elvis North (Alabama, USA)
Thought for the Day: We are never too old to obey God’s call.
Prayer: Teach us, O God, to serve you and to answer your call throughout our lives. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those who feel too old to be useful
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