"Called As You Are." Word of Grace Devotion by Pastor Joe Marquez

8/11/2014

The Word of Grace Devotion for the Week of August 11, 2014

Called As You Are

1 Corinthians 7:17- “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.” ESV

Beloved, 1 Corinthians 7 is speaking about relationships: single, husband/wife, believer married to an unbeliever, widowed and such. In each instance Paul says to stay as you are unless the Lord directs you otherwise.

Beloved, no matter what your current relationship status may be, we must understand that God can work in us and through us just as we stand. Instead of thinking that we can or will walk for the Lord when our relationship status changes, we need to walk for the Lord in the place we are at right now.

We must also realize that we cannot undo the past in regard to relationships. We must repent of whatever sin is there and then move on. If you are married to your second wife, after wrongfully divorcing your first wife; don't think you must now leave your second wife and go back to your first wife, trying to undo the past. As the Lord has called you, walk in that place right now.

For many years I lived as a single man serving and loving the Lord. Sometimes the thought would enter my mind that others had it better than me because of their different relationship status. Not true, God’s grace is sufficient for each of us in whatever status we may be.

If we are married, single, divorced, or remarried, it doesn’t matter nearly as much as an on-fire relationship with Jesus right now! This is the relationship that we need to continually seek to grow! Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you! Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!

In Christ-

Pastor Joe

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Senior Pastor
Joe Marquez

Beloved, we are soon to once again celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the human Son of man and the divine Son of God. He is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent God.

While there were many people instrumental in the birth of Christ, this morning we will look at His birth through the eyes of Joseph, His legal father. There is not too much known about the man who would care for Christ as He grew up. We know that Joseph was possibly a carpenter but most importantly we know that he was a righteous man who did the right thing.

When others would have ran away from a responsibility that was not even their own, Joseph stood steadfast and remained faithful to the end. We can learn much from his character and apply his attributes of faithfulness, purity, and perseverance to our own lives.

May you have a Blessed Christmas week and may Christ always be at the center of your lives!

P.S. Come back this evening as we look at the birth of Christ through the Gospel of Luke!