Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God… ~ Romans 1:1

READING: Romans 1:1-6

Be optimistic, you are “called” by God! Has the thought of your “calling” contributed optimism as you serve God?

Indeed, our calling is an important matter to repeatedly recognize and realize in our ministry journey because it strengthens our commitment to the Mission of the Lord Jesus.

Paul realizes three distinct essentials in his “calling.” The first essential is his doulos (δοῦλος) relationship with Christ Jesus. Doulos means a slave or a bondman.

The root deo means “to tie, or to be bound or imprisoned, or put in chains.” This signifies that Paul was chained up or bound with God and so moved wherever God was moving.

He was subjected to the will, and wholly at the disposal, of the King of the universe and the Savior of the world.

The second essential is his authority that comes from the King, who is the pre-incarnated and post-resurrected Son.

This realization made Paul confident of accomplishing his assignment. While God calls, He makes it clear by whom the ‘called’ ones are called.

The third essential is the unique purpose for which he is “called.”

He recognized that his “set-apart call” was to propagate the gospel of God, which includes the prophecies concerning the gospel, the descent of Jesus from David, His birth, ministry, death, and resurrection, the good news of the Kingdom to the Gentiles, and the spiritual blessings of Christians.

Is there any greater, more admirable purpose for a life? We are called to preach the Gospel that was promised beforehand, of His Son, and which is righteousness from God!

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank you for your precious call. Help me to precisely obey and do my part to reach this unbelieving world under your shield of authority. Always keep me enthusiastic. Amen.

R. Jayakumar