I joined the angels singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Revelation 4:8), and with the elders I sang, “Thou Art Worthy” (Revelation 4:10). I joined the chorus of angels, and beasts, and elders together singing: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). I stood with the creatures of God’s making assembled in earth and sea to sing the crescendo: “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:13). I heard the four beasts say “Amen!” And I fell down with the twenty-four elders before the glorious throne to worship Him that liveth for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:14).

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in 1 Corinthians 7. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind* in verse 20:

1Corinthians 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

The context of the verse is Paul’s response to various questions he received from the Corinthians (7:1).** Concerning the exhortation to “abide in the same calling,” if you were saved while married, stay married; if you are a born-again Jew, you continue to be Jewish; it you are a born-again Gentile, you continue to be a Gentile. Obviously, some things change: a born-again Jew would no longer be under bondage to the Law (Colossians 2:14-20), and the born-again Gentile would be obliged to refrain from idols, fornication, and eating things strangled, and from the blood (Acts 16:20, 29). Nevertheless, the new believer remains in the state (referred to as his “calling”) in which he was when he responded to the call of Christ’s Gospel.

Along the still waters, I pondered on these things. Clearly, the Spirit is not saying that if you were a plowman when you received Christ, you are instructed to remain in that “calling.” Elisha was “called” to leave his plow and follow Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21; see Luke 9:62, where the idea of putting one’s “hand to the plough” is likened to entering into Christ’s service). Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen when they met Jesus—they were called to leave their nets and follow Him (Matthew 4:20). Matthew (Levi) was a tax collector and left his trade to follow Jesus (Matthew 5:27-29). The exhortation to remain in your calling does not refer to your tradecraft or business.

It does mean that if you were called while in the status of a servant, do not strive to break away, like Onesimus (Philemon, see verses 10, 25). Paul said we should not strive over matters of social class: “Ye are bought with a price” (see 1 Corinthians 6:20—Christ’s blood makes us His alone, not owned by any man), and therefore, “be not ye servants of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23). The Spirit said, “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant” (7:22).

Nor does it mean you are obliged to remain in whatever status you are called: “Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather” (7:21). If God opens a door for you, and it’s a move that will allow you to be more useful to the Lord and His Kingdom, “use it.” Be content to serve the Lord where you are. If an opportunity arises to serve Him more freely, take it. In whatever state you find yourself, therewith be content (Philippians 4:11).

In the valley, shadowed by His Cross, I knelt to worship. I thought about the ploughman who set his hand to the plow and then looked back (Luke 9:62): “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” I heard the Spirit speak to my heart by the words of Christ: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38). And I welcomed the daily call to every disciple: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I did!

At His table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace (Psalm 23:5). Goodness and mercy followed (Psalm 23:6) as we went to labor together in His Harvest (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live as soon as I can set up the livestream.

https://rumble.com/v6x4mxi-shepherds-pasture.html

[*A note on connecting with the “Mind of the Spirit” is added in the livestream for this devotion.]

[**He speaks to them, and us, regarding marriage, addressing issues ranging from questions about whether marriage is something to be sought during the time of their distress from persecution (7:1-2, 6-9, 2-4), the importance of marriage relations (7:2-4), the exception of fasting (7:5), questions arising from divorce in the special circumstance of one partner becoming a believer after marriage and the unbelieving partner rejecting his or her believing partner (7:10-13), the sanctification of the unbelieving by the believing, and the effect this has on their children (7:12-16). Finally, he exhorted every believer not to use their faith as an excuse to dissolve contracts made while in unbelief, or to move out of their circle of influence or their traditions. (Obviously, excepting those traditions or influences that are evil—2 Corinthians 6:17). So, if you are “called” (to salvation), being circumcised or uncircumcised, you are not obliged to leave that status. The born-again Jew was not required to adopt the benign traditions of the Gentiles, nor were the born-again Gentiles required to adopt the religious traditions of the Jews.]