Call, Commitment and Job Description of a Christian
St. Paul was once a persecutor of the first-century church. Despite his past as a blasphemer and a violent man, Paul was shown mercy because he acted in ignorance and unbelief. In 1 Timothy 1:14, he acknowledges, ‘The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.’ Let us briefly examine Paul’s journey through three small headings:
- Who are you, Lord?
Paul’s faith journey began with a miraculous encounter with God on the road to Damascus. When God spoke to Paul, his first question was, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ This can be considered the question of salvation. Many in the Christian world may profess faith but lack a personal understanding of who Jesus is. Just as the Samaritan woman, despite her knowledge of faith and tradition, found true satisfaction only through a personal encounter with Jesus, knowing Jesus personally is fundamental to the Christian faith.
- What should I do?
Once we know Jesus, the next question is, ‘What should I do?’ Faith in Jesus without obedience to God’s will is meaningless. Living solely for worldly pursuits without consideration for eternity is a pitiful existence (1 Corinthians 15:19). Jesus himself warned against being mere ‘evil doers’ by missing God’s will (Matthew 7:21-23). Living according to God’s will offers hope and joy for eternity.
- Job description of Paul
God has a specific purpose for each of us. We cannot live solely according to our desires but must align ourselves with God’s plan. Paul recognized this when he said he worked with his hands for his income (Acts 20:34). However, God’s job description for Paul was clear: ‘This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel’ (Acts 9:15). This aligns with the command to ‘make disciples of all nations.’ The call to follow Jesus entails denying ourselves, taking up the cross (God’s plan), and following Him. Will we choose to follow Jesus?”