Bible Reading Challenge #15
Live as You Were Called
Paul reminds the Corinthians that following Jesus is not about changing your status—whether circumcised or uncircumcised, married or unmarried, slave or free—but about changing how you live. His call is simple: be faithful right where God has placed you. Be a light for Christ at your job, in your family, in your neighborhood, and even in your hobbies. This is not a call to completely overhaul your schedule, but to live with gospel purpose in the circles of influence you already have.
For too long, Christians have been tempted to pull away from the world out of fear of contamination. But Paul points us in the opposite direction. We are called to step into the world with the hope of spreading the Good News of Jesus. Don’t retreat from the unbelievers in your life—step toward them. Yes, it is often easier to be pulled down into sin than to pull someone up into godliness, but God has wisely placed you in your relationships and environments so that you can be His ambassador.
You may think your influence is small, but hear this clearly: you likely have more influence than I do with your co-workers, neighbors, family, and friends. As a pastor, I may carry a title, but you carry the trust and depth of relationship that opens doors to the gospel. So live as you were called, where you are called, and among those to whom you are called.
