Our Common Calling

 

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For

“He who would love life

And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” - 1 Peter 3:8-12

We often wonder what our calling in Christ is.  There's one calling we all have.  We're all called to be a blessing to each other. If we're only good to those who are good to us, we've not done more than the average Joe.  Matthew 6:46-48 teaches that these have earned our good responses.  We're giving them what they deserve. 

But to be good to those who have done nothing for us and cannot do anything for us, to those of who we expect nothing in return, that is being a blessing. That is the calling we all have.  Yet how we do it determines whether we will be rewarded here, or in Heaven.  

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." - Matthew 6:1-4 

An act of kindness from an unknown source is a sweet feeling.  But being the source of that joy for another is a sweeter feeling because in doing it we live out our obedience to Christ and our calling.  Find someone to surprise today, and just be a blessing that they cannot repay!  Live to your calling.