Our Family, Our Calling
By Elvira Bujanda
God’s children are in a spiritual battle. Satan wants to destroy the love of God in us and take our souls.
But we will triumph as we stay in the Spirit, as 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “For though we walk in the flesh we don’t war after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
The only way the enemy can triumph by convincing God’s children that he is equal in power to God. It’s the same lie that got him thrown out of heaven: I’ll be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-15).
It’s the same lie he sold to Eve: you’ll be your own god (Genesis 3:4-5).
When Jesus Christ died on the cross, he stripped Satan of his power, it says in Colossians 2:15: “In this way God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities, He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross of Christ.”
As we submit to God’s will, we are acknowledging His authority in our lives and disarming the devil. John 4:7-8 says, “Humble yourselves therefore before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw close to God and God will draw close to you.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 warns: “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him and be strong in your faith.”
We are in the world but not of it, because we are living a supernatural life by the power of God.
But don’t fall into the trap of isolating yourself from the world.
Remember, God has placed you in this chaotic world to have your life make an impact on those around you who are blinded by sin. He has sent you to demonstrate a changed life and to offer them the truth that will set them free (John 8:32).
“God is a loving and just god, and even in this present evil world, His desire is to redeem souls and make them His children rather than judge them.”
It is Christ who is supreme and above all things, and as His followers we are given the promise of eternal life and the hope of Heaven; the assurance of eternity spent with Him in our Father’s house: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and He is supreme over all creation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in Heaven and Earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything was created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:15-17, NLT).
It is God’s desire to see more souls saved, and as His children we are entrusted by Him to bring the Gospel – the Good News in His Word – to those who are lost in sin. Paul says, “For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News” (1 Thessalonians 2:4, NLT).
This is the family business: winning souls and bringing them into God’s kingdom family through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the insight He has given us in His Word.
God is a loving and just God, and even in this present evil world, His desire is to redeem souls and make them His children rather than judge them. As we live supernatural lives through His power and grace, He will give us opportunities to reach and touch lives and see them saved for His glory.
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise to return, as some people think. No. He is being patient for your sakes, because He does not want anyone to perish. But the Day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a trembling noise and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything will be exposed to judgment. Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives should you be living?” (2 Peter 3:9-11).
This is an important question. Living in a right relationship with God is essential to carrying out His purpose in the earth “Because of our faith, Christ brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory” (Romans 5:2).
Let’s begin each morning with prayer, in a trusting attitude, depending on God to hear and to give us opportunities to share His amazing grace.
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Live wisely among those who are not Christians and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone” (Colossians 4:2-6).
Since we are chosen by God to be His children, we are also blessed with unique spiritual gifts to benefit the Church, the body of Christ. As each of us grows in the gift that God has blessed us with, we find a place of service and fulfill many needs, as He intends us to strengthen each other.
Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”
Although you may not hold a prominent ministerial position such as these, there are many other needs in God’s family: caring for the elderly, the widow, the lonely, those in prison, the sick, the homeless, the single parent, the infant; serving as an usher or in tech support; being a prayer warrior.
As we read down to verses 15-16, we see that the more we serve, the more we grow up together in Christ the Head, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
The supernatural relationship that God has with His children produces love and strength as we trust in Him to empower and guide us as our loving heavenly Father: “We wait upon the Lord. We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You” (Psalm 33:20-22).
This joy that comes through trusting in God’s love is echoed in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Therefore, always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Remember always that you are God’s child, as Galatians 4:5 says, having been adopted as His child by the power of the Holy Spirit and the work of Christ. What an honor!
As part of His family, we are enlisted as ambassadors for Christ to bring His message of forgiveness to a lost and dying world (2 Corinthians 5:20). What a privilege!
I close with the words of the Apostle Paul: “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, NLT).