Called To Be Yourself - 7:17-24
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Introduction
Introduction
Colored pencils
All of these are different.
They were made that way.
The only way to have a good picture is to use all the colors.
What if you grab a blue pencil but it says, I'm green today? How useful is that?
Or they say, I'll only work for you if you use the grip I like.
The last person who used me broke my lead. So I'm not going to take that chance again. I'm done being used.
How effectively will you be able to color the picture in this situation?
We need the colors to be right, we need them to work, and we need them do what they were designed to do.
We have been designed by God to be what He wants us to be.
He has designed us to be used.
We will be most useful, blessed, and content when we are functioning according to His design doing what He has called us to do.
We get into trouble when we believe that we can only serve Christ when our circumstances are right.
That is the lie our enemy will tell. Why? He doesn’t want us to be useful, blessed, or content.
So he tells us that happiness is our highest goal, and that happiness depends on perfect circumstances. He will then lead us on a lifelong pursuit of happiness that can never be attained!
Old song: Happiness is the Lord.
Here is the thought that I believe is the foundation for our passage today.
Service for Christ does not require a change in circumstance.
If this happens I will serve.
When this happens I will be able to serve.
If we are not serving now, we will not serve no matter how our circumstances may change.
Effective service demands that we follow two commands.
These two commands sum up all that Paul says here.
Command #1…
1. Be Obedient vv. 17-20
1. Be Obedient vv. 17-20
How many loved hearing that as a kid?
Do we really like it any better now?
And yet, this is what Scripture demands.
If we are going to obey…
We have to understand what obedience is.
What is obedience? OR How do we obey?
Three components to obedience.
Component #1.
An obedient believer will…
a. Submit v. 17
a. Submit v. 17
17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
The Greek word here translated “distributed” appears as “assignment” in most other translations.
The word means to “divide, deal out, or apportion.” The idea is of God giving to each of us our share or assignment.
Distributed - go back to colored pencils.
God has chosen to have all these different colors.
Why? To make a perfect picture.
God doesn't give all the colors to any one person.
We're not like that pen that you could select the color.
We're a box of colored pencils.
He gives you this color and me a different color.
If we want to make a color we don't have, we have to work together!
God distributed, He separated the colors and gave them to us.
The only way to have an accurate picture of God and His work is when each of us uses the gift we have been given.
Paul writes here that God has given to each of us an assignment and a calling.
God has placed us where He wants us. That is where we walk.
The word “walk” has the idea of our manner of life.
We conduct our lives according to the assignment and call of God!
What do we call that?
We call it obedience.
God has distributed, Paul has ordained.
What does this tell us?
Obedience begins with submission.
This passage implies two authorities to whom we are to submit ourselves.
i. To the Lord
i. To the Lord
As God has distributed, as the Lord has called, so let him walk.
This is submission.
You have an assignment, I have an assignment.
We have a calling.
Live in the assignment and calling God has given!
Don’t be jealous of someone else’s assignment!
Blue vs. Green. Sky & grass.
This is an imperative.
Walk in your calling. Walk in your assignment.
Not optional for the child of God.
We submit ourselves to the Lord.
Secondly. We submit…
ii. To the leadership
ii. To the leadership
Paul commands that believers walk in the calling and assignment of God.
We obey God, and we obey the leadership He has placed over us.
In context, the topic is marriage and sexuality.
Paul is saying, don’t seek to change your status.
God called you just as you are.
He gave you an assignment.
Serve right where you are.
If we are going to serve where God has placed us there is something we must do.
That is our lesson here.
Submit to God’s sovereign placement.
He has placed you where He wants you. He has given you the gifts He wanted you to have.
Submit to God, and serve Him.
We are called to be obedient.
Three components to obedience.
Component #1.
An obedient believer will submit.
Component #2.
An obedient believer will…
b. Focus vv. 18-19
b. Focus vv. 18-19
18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
Verse 17 = statement of principle.
Here he gives some application.
If God called you as a circumcised Jew, don’t start living like a Gentile.
If God called you as an uncircumcised Gentiles, don’t try to live like a Jew.
Why not?
Because God called you and assigned you exactly how you are!
This is a matter of focus.
Don’t be distracted by arguments like this.
Don’t get caught up in debates about circumcision or anything else that has no bearing on your salvation!
We are not here to win people to circumcision!
We are here to win people to Christ!
Stay focused on the goal!
You can serve Jesus right where you are.
You can work for Him being who you are.
He called you He gave an assignment to you.
Walk the path He’s leading you down.
We cannot walk the path God has called us to if we are focused on the wrong thing!
Obedience demands proper focus.
Look at verse 19.
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
In Paul’s day, circumcision was a big deal.
It was part of the covenant God made to Abraham, it was tied to your identity as a Jew.
A lot was attached to it.
To say it is nothing was scandalous.
Here’s the point Paul is making.
Identification is not as important as obedience.
You may think that your national identity is the most important thing about you.
Or maybe it’s your politics, or your skin color, or your sexuality, or your job, or your abilities or disabilities.
Listen to what Paul is saying to each one of us.
The most important thing is your obedience to Christ.
You have been called. Obey your calling.
You have been given an assignment, a task to accomplish. Fulfill your assignment.
Don’t be distracted by the temporary and fleeting.
Many of the things that consume us in this life will not matter in eternity.
Focus.
Live out your calling. Fulfill your assignment.
Focus on the task you have been given.
Here’s two things very important to remember and know.
1 - God has uniquely gifted you for your task.
2 - Your greatest fulfillment and satisfaction will be found in serving Christ.
Please note what I did not say.
I did not promise that it will be easy. It won’t. It will be the hardest thing you will ever do. In fact, you won’t be able to do it without depending on the Lord!
It will be hard.
It will be painful.
But my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, when we stand in His presence, believe me, it will be worth it.
We are called to be obedient.
Three components to obedience.
Component #1.
An obedient believer will submit.
Component #2.
An obedient believer will focus.
Component #3.
An obedient believer will…
c. Endure V. 20
c. Endure V. 20
Let’s pull our colored pencils out again.
No one uses white. It is basically pointless in most cases.
The white colored pencil feels useless. Why was I made this way. I would be so much more useful if…
Haven’t we had those thoughts?
My life would be so much easier if… fill in the blank.
If I was a Jew, if I was a Gentile, if I was married to a believer, if I wasn’t married at all.
Does God make mistakes?
Did He mess up when He called you?
Look at verse 20.
20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
Notice that it isn’t about location, but calling.
A calling is bigger than a place, it is bigger than where you are.
A calling is about the use of your gifts.
This colored pencil is white for a very specific purpose.
The Spiritual gift you have, the talents and abilities that make you who you are were all chosen by God for a specific purpose!
Remain in your calling!
This is a command.
Use your gifts!
You have an assignment.
Do what God has called you to do.
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible 2. The basic principle 7:17–24
Our calling as Christians, to bear witness to Jesus Christ, is more important than our calling in life, namely the place we occupy in the social, economic, and geographical scheme of things.
This is not about your vocation, it is about who you are. Nationality, gender etc.
Culture says be true to yourself.
Woman who feels like a man? Be a man.
Man who feels like a woman? Be a woman.
Feel like neither one, don’t choose.
Paul is saying that God did not make a mistake when He created you and me and when He called us.
He chose your nationality. He chose the color of your skin. He chose everything about you.
Circumstances do not determine your ability to serve Jesus!
Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called!
Endure! Stay the course. Wait on the Lord and trust Him for the grace and strength to keep serving no matter the circumstances.
God’s grace is sufficient for you and me!
We are obedient when we endure.
Endurance is only possible as we trust the God who called us.
God has called you! He has placed you! Serve Him! Endure.
He has a reason, plan, and purpose.
We are called to be obedient.
Three components to obedience.
Component #1.
An obedient believer will submit.
Component #2.
An obedient believer will focus.
Component #3.
An obedient believer will endure.
Effective service demands that we follow two commands.
These two commands sum up all that Paul says here.
Command #1. Be Obedient.
Command #2…
2. Be Consistent vv. 21-24
2. Be Consistent vv. 21-24
Consistency and coloring.
What happens as a pencil is used?
Grows dull. For consistency, we sharpen it.
The process of sharpening is not comfortable.
Tempted to roll off the table.
Then look up at the artist and ask why He’s so far away.
Why doesn’t He care?
Why does He let me hurt?
HE DIDN’T MOVE!
We rolled off the table.
We didn’t trust Him!
Yes the process of sharpening hurts, but it is necessary for my usefulness.
I cannot be useful, I cannot be effective, if I am not consistent.
This has application in our Spiritual lives.
Consistency is necessary for growth and effective service.
What does consistency look like?
Here in this passage Paul gives us two pictures of consistency.
Picture #1.
A consistent believer will…
a. Disregard status vv. 21-23
a. Disregard status vv. 21-23
These three verses touch on a rather difficult issue.
While slavery is not the main topic of consideration, it is mentioned.
Two things need to be noted.
1 - Paul is not condoning slavery.
2 - Paul advocates for the freedom of slaves.
Also important is the vast difference between slavery in the 1st century and the slavery we think of.
1/3 slaves. Highly educated. Gave safety and consistency.
However, it is important to note that Paul’s point here is not slavery itself.
His point is how we live out our calling.
Look at verse 21.
21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.
This word “concerned” is interesting.
The idea is that we are not to consider our status as relevant.
Being a slave is nothing to be concerned about.
What does Paul mean?
He means that You can still serve Christ, even as a slave.
Now, before anyone gets all upset, we need to remember Paul’s next words.
If you can be free, do it.
Why does Paul use this example?
Because many in the early church were slaves.
Paul and the other apostles were not interested in starting a rebellion.
They wanted believers to live boldly for Jesus Christ no matter their status!
If you are a slave, serve Christ.
If you can be free, get free, and serve Christ!
If we have the ability to serve Christ in our current situation, do it.
If a bad situation can be changed, change it.
Ultimately, our circumstances are not what matter.
Faithfulness is what matters.
This attitude begs a question.
Why shouldn’t we be concerned about being a slave?
Come on Paul!
Look at verse 22.
22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.
Paul’s Holy Spirit inspired perspective is unique.
In Christ, slaves are free. In Christ, the free are slaves.
Thanks Paul, that’s clear as mud.
Here is his point.
Ultimately we are free in Christ while being slaves to Christ.
Two passages on our freedom.
Romans 8:2; Galatians 5:1
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
We are free!
And yet, we are slaves.
Go to Romans 6:18-22.
Romans 6:18-22
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
We all were slaves, slaves to sin.
Now we are free from sin and slaves to righteousness and slaves to God!
Here’s Paul’s point.
Physical bondage does not prevent spiritual service.
No matter your social status, you are free to serve Christ.
Don’t think of yourself as a slave, you are free in Christ!
Don’t think of yourself as better than others because you are free, you are the slave of Christ!
How can this be?
Look at verse 23.
23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
We are purchased possessions of the King.
Even if we are free physically, we belong to Jesus.
In Revelation 14 this word “bought” is translated “redeemed.”
What have we been redeemed with?
1 Peter 1:18-19
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
We have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ!
We were bought at a price.
What was the price?
Peter mentions it and the author of Hebrews makes it clear.
Hebrews 9:22
22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Sin cannot and will not be forgiven without the shedding of blood.
The blood of Jesus Christ was poured out for our sin! It is only through faith in Him that we are saved.
He purchased us with His blood. We belong to Him.
What does it mean that we are now slaves of Christ?
We obey Him.
It also means that we dare not place ourselves in bondage to anyone else.
Physical component - in Paul’s day they could sell themselves to be rid of debt. Don’t do it.
Spiritually - Romans 6 makes it clear that we become slaves to sin when we choose it over Christ. Don’t become a slave.
We need to be consistent in our service for Christ.
A consistent believer is unconcerned with status.
It doesn’t matter if you are a slave or free.
It doesn’t matter if you are black, brown, white or red, or some other skin color.
It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor.
The Christian life is about faithfulness not position.
Status does not determine effectiveness for Christ.
What does? Faithfulness.
Be consistent.
Don’t worry about your status.
Just serve Jesus.
In this passage Paul gives us two pictures of consistency.
Picture #1.
A consistent believer will disregard status.
Picture #2.
A consistent believer will…
b. Be content v. 24
b. Be content v. 24
Look at verse 24.
24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
This verse is almost identical to v. 20.
However, there are a couple of key differences.
First, v. 20 commands us to stay in our calling.
Here we are commanded to stay in the state in which we were called.
This is not a state like California or Oregon or something.
In fact, the word state is not in the Greek text it was added by the translators for clarity.
The idea is that we stay in the condition in which God called us unless it is clear that God wants us to change.
The other side of this is that there are things we cannot change.
We must recognize that God does not make mistakes!
He called you to be who and what you are.
There is a song we have taught our kids called the 10 unchangeables.
SLIDE
We cannot change these things!
More than that, God called you in them!
The second difference in this verse is very important.
We stay in the same state we are in.
We stay with God.
God is present in our difficulties.
God is present in our trials.
God is present when we are tempted.
God is present when we are rejected.
God is present when we face discrimination.
God is present when we suffer.
God is with us!
In John 14 Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be in them.
He promises that the comforter, the helper will abide with us forever!
God Himself lives inside of us!
We are able to be content in any situation and in any circumstance because God is with us!
Our loving and gracious heavenly Father is going to sustain you and me. He is going to keep us and protect us and preserve us.
Stay in your calling.
Fulfill your assignment.
God is with you.
God has called us to be where we are and who we are.
He has commanded us to serve there.
The where and how can and will change, the who will not.
Contentment means that we trust the Lord and serve Him.
Be content with who God has made you.
Colored pencils.
If God made me a blue pencil, I will be the best blue pencil there is.
If God made me the white pencil, that rarely gets used. I will serve Him no matter what.
Contentment chooses faith even in tough circumstances.
If we spend all our time wishing we were something else, we will be ineffective for Jesus.
Don’t waste time trying to change an unchangeable.
Just serve Jesus.
Conclusion
Conclusion
You have been called by God as you are, where you are, and who you are.
Be obedient, be consistent and serve Christ!
In our personal lives our focus needs to be serving Jesus. Married? serve Christ. Single? Serve Christ. Divorced? Serve Christ. A slave? serve Christ. Free? Serve Christ. Don’t spend so much time worrying about side issues. God called you to serve Him! He doesn’t care about your status, He cares about your faithfulness!
In our relationships the goal must be to serve Christ. Build friendships that help you achieve that goal. Develop friendships that draw you closer to Christ or give you gospel opportunities.
In our parenting. We want to model what service looks like. Serve with your kids. Our children should see us shaping our lives around service, not sports, school, or other activities. Jesus commanded us to seek His kingdom first. Do our children see that?
Marriage. One of the goals for husbands and wives is to serve Christ together. When we do that, some of our petty differences will seem far less important.
COMMITMENT
Think of a way you want to serve and write it here: _________________________________
We have been called by God to be ourselves.
Be obedient.
Submit to the Lord, follow His leading.
He has gifted and called you.
Put the gifts God has given to use in His service.
This requires that we stay focused and that we endure.
There will be temptation to be distracted. There will be trials and difficulties.
Keep on serving.
Be consistent.
Don’t worry about status.
Status changes. It comes and it goes.
We must spend time and energy on that which is eternal.
We cannot be consistent in our service if we are worried about our status.
We also cannot be consistent if we are not content.
Be satisfied with what God has given and serve Him.
Every believer has been called by God.
Every believer has been gifted by God.
Every believer has been given a task.
Serve Christ faithfully and without excuse.
Get your colored pencil on the way out.