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

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