CALLED OUT TO SERVICE
But if I wetarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
The word, “Church” in the New Testament really means “the called out ones”; from the Greek “Ecclesia” (a calling out). And when we say we’re God’s called-out ones, it doesn’t refer to being called out of the world unto God. What actually happens is that we’re called out from home to service.
We find this captured in Hebrews 13:13, which says, _*“Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”*_ Mark the expression, “without the camp”; it means outside the camp. We’re the called out ones to serve Him outside the camp.
It mirrors what the Bible says, that Jesus Christ was crucified outside the city gates. So He says let us also go forth therefore unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. It’s about our work of service, our evangelical work to the whole world. The ensuing verse 14 clarifies it some more; it says, _*“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”*_ In other words, get to work, do His work.
When we gather as the Church, it’s for a purpose; we come to praise Him for the purpose of going to do what He told us to do. He said: _*“…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”*_ (Mark 16:15). The real work is outside the camp. We’ve been sent to spread the news of His saving power to the ends of the earth.
PRAYER
I’m called out to a purpose, to a mission of service. Therefore, I commit myself to be diligent and faithful in the work of service the Lord has called me to, to reach the unreached and saturate the world with the message of the Gospel. I fulfil it with purpose and passion, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 15:58, Matthew 28:19-20
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 5:21-48 & Genesis 15-17
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 7:22-32 & Nehemiah 10
