Nothing Else
“And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.” – Romans 8:30
I learned early in life, trying to find meaning in our existence, that we were created to give Him glory (according to Isaiah 43:7), and it sounds easy enough to live a life that honors and points towards Him if it weren’t for the insecurities and pride that feeds our need to exalt ourselves and become someone. That’s why so often people become what they do, or identify with their work, productivity, community, or emotions as their purpose in life as a way to justify and preserve themselves as their calling.
Romans, written by the Apostle Paul, has a different perspective on this matter; that God has chosen us before the foundation of this world, without accomplishing anything or having any merits of our own, and appointed us to share His glory by becoming Christlike, to bring about His purpose for us.
Galatians 1:15-16 explains it better: “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles...”
God chooses, calls, but then he reveals!
The greatest mystery about our calling and belonging lies in the revelation of Jesus.
It happened for Paul that as the revelation of the truth and power of Jesus Christ took place in his life, it enabled the effectual call he had for the apostleship - and God is pleased to reveal His Son to us!
When we realize who He is, then we realize who we are and what we are called to; in addition, He leads us into the how.
The grace, the choosing, the calling, and the right standing – it’s all an unconditional choice, not on our worth as people.
Philippians 3:4-8 “…though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
“To make Him known” – that is now our biggest mission thanks to the revelation that happens inside of us, the surpassing worth that lies in us, the reason why we can now become light of the world and salt of the earth.
Jesus. He is why people notice in us the reality of God and glorify Him.
It is all because of Jesus. Nothing else.