The Call of Christ

Yesterday I read a note I wrote dated October 1, 2016 that says “To be a committed follower of Jesus must be the most important goal in my life.” Then on the side of the note are insights on how should I be able to achieve said goal. Let me share with you the insights I wrote that were gathered from the book Tomorrow is a Matter of Choice by William L. Thrasher, Jr.: a) Be intentional about placing God at the center of everything you do. b) Learn to depend on God and accept His providential care and control in your life. c) Purpose to use the gifts and opportunities God has given you today. d) Strive to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. e) Get alone with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and allow them to speak to you. f) Continually remind yourself why you are so thankful to God. g) Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow. h) Set a goal to give God the very best of everyday.

Every now and then I read the said note of mine along with the above insights. They are helpful in my day to day living as a worker, a widow and as a mother striving to follow Jesus. I know that it is not easy but nonetheless the effort of trying to do those things to achieve my goal is worthwhile.

Furthermore, I discovered a tool called the Seven Calls of Christ from the above mentioned book of Mr. Thrasher. This tool may help us every day to glorify God in everything we do and in everything that we are. The seven simple steps are as follows:

1. SEEK His kingdom. “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:33)
2. THINK on the right things. “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8)
3. WALK worthy of the Lord. “That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer, insight, acquaintance, and recognition).” (Colossians 1:10)
4. LEAD a consistent and victorious life. “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8)
5. LIVE a holy life. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15)
6. FOLLOW and serve Christ. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12)
7. KEEP your eyes on Jesus. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

With that, may the above steps guide us to respond on the call of Christ for us to be his follower no matter what position and state of life we are in. Let us also be reminded on what Jesus told his disciples about following him on Matthew 16:24 that says “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”