The theological roots of this concept of “vocation” are found in the biblical doctrine of creation and divine sovereignty. We are by God’s creative decree shaped in His image and thus designed to reflect in all our endeavors the purposeful activity of God Himself. All Christians, therefore, should ideally embrace their “work”, however secular and uneventful it may appear, as a calling of God, a responsibility for which they have been uniquely endowed that is designed in its own way to glorify God. One’s “job” or “career” or “occupation” thus has a meaning beyond mere personal fulfillment. “Ministry” is therefore not what the majority of Christians perform as “a discretionary time activity – something done with the few hours that can be squeezed out of the week’s schedule after working, sleeping, homemaking, neighbouring, washing and doing the chores” (Stevens, The Other Six Days, 132). It is, rather, all of life when discharged in faith.
Sam Storms

Bible Reading: OCT03: Matthew 7-9

Today we complete the reading of the Sermon on the Mount.
Many people think they can be saved by following the
instructions found in this sermon. They think it is easier
than trying to obey the Ten Commandments. How foolish!
Nobody has ever been saved by obeying any law (Galatians
2:16; 3:10,11); and the Sermon on the Mount is much more
strict than Moses’ Law. Under Moses’ Law, if a man murdered
another, he was guilty; but Jesus says that hatred in the
heart is the same as murder.

As we begin our reading in Chapter 8 we move into a
comparatively different section of Matthew, in which the
King reveals His power. Matthew brings a group of ten
miracles together to prove to his readers that Jesus Christ
possesses the power of the King that the Old Testament
promised the Messiah would have. We see in these verses
that Christ has power over disease, as we read of the
healing of the leper. Leprosy was one of the most dreaded
diseases in Jesus’ day. There was no cure for it; yet Jesus
touched the leper, thus defiling Himself. His touch did not
mean contamination for His body, but healing for the leper.

A note of interest here is that the healing was
through the Word. Jesus said to the leper, “Be thou clean.”
It is through the Word of God today that we are cleansed.
Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that
they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus gives eternal
life through faith in His finished work on the cross; but
it is abundant life as we live day to day through the power
of His precious Holy Spirit.
MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY:
Man now can be:
Redeemed.
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace.