“THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED TO HIM!”

1 Corinthians 7:17-24                                       (ESV)

Live as You Are Called

“[17] Only LET EACH PERSON LEAD THE LIFE THAT “THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED TO HIM”, and TO WHICH GOD HAS CALLED HIM. This is my rule in all the churches. [18] Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. [19] For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, BUT KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. [20] Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. [21] Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) [22] For he who was called in the LORD as a bondservant is a freedman of the LORD. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of CHRIST. [23] You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. [24] So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with GOD.”

Allowing others to walk in a PATH OF DESTRUCTION, especially when it is someone you cherish and love, can be a very torturous experience.  Looking back over my life I can see some choices that were made that proved to have results that were costly, to put it mildly.  There were times, I’m sure, that friends who might have been able to help were “prevented” by the HOLY SPIRIT, leaving me to grow Spiritually where I depend SOLELY on THE LORD and HIS teaching abilities.  

There are some lessons that I have learned that I had to be placed in the position of HEARING from THE LORD, or SEEING HIS HAND, before I was able to learn from the trial that I was going through.  I couldn’t have heard the advice, nor seen the pitfall I was headed to, until GOD led me through “the valley of the shadow of death” and got my attention first!

We ALL have a PLAN for our lives.  My problem is that too often I have not WAITED for THE LORD and proceeded with what “I thought” was the best thing for my life and my future.  The WISE things for me to consider is “Only LET EACH PERSON LEAD THE LIFE THAT “THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED TO HIM”, and TO WHICH GOD HAS CALLED HIM.”  Walking through “the valley of the shadow of death” isn’t a problem if we have THE LORD guiding our steps.  Where I have “wandered” in my life is when I WOULD NOT WAIT ON THE LORD (Psalms 27:14)!

1 Kings 19 tells us that GOD doesn’t always speak to us in the same manner as HE has previously.  GOD has a PLAN for each of us.  My challenge is to SLOW DOWN and listen for HIM, not to build something faster so I can move to the next task ahead of me!  “THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED TO HIM” exactly what HE needs for me to accomplish through HIM, and for HIS GLORY!  It has taken me a long time to SEE that PEACE only comes from WAITING ON HIM!!!