Apologetics

God’s Ordination for Us

by Robert [Bob] Schaetzle Sr. 
04/05/18
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                                                                    God’s Ordination for Us             595 words
                                             by Robert Schaetzle

When our Savior chose his 12 Apostles, how did he ordain them? What was His prepared statement of indoctrination? Did He tell them to attend the best rabbinical school of the day? Did he instruct them to memorize the 10 commandments, and the 613 Levitical Ordinances? What was His command?  “Follow Me!” 

 ^“And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.” Mark 2:14RSV

Do not these same words Jesus gave Levi also apply to us? For most of us we’ve never attended any seminary, neither did Levi.

What we’re about each day is God’s one prerequisite within the order of our being sanctified.  “And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 [My emphasis]   

This request is not a suggestion, but rather a daily commitment toward building our intimate lasting relationship to the One who created us.

 “My frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:15-16 RSV

When King David penned this psalm, his own personal relationship with God was not just a casual acquaintance, but a deeply rooted love. To lean upon God’s strength and resource more than himself.

Our faith walk should also be growing and learning to develop a personal intimacy with our Lord. The One greater than self should be our hope!    

                                                  Recognize how to Decrease

As we purpose our life to be as new creatures in Jesus, it becomes our personal mandate what John the Baptist declares: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”John 3:30

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
Our worth and confidence, comes to us in bearing the fruit God desires. Seeking to please Him more, our transformation will be living through the power of His presence.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Surrender ‘self-will,’ is a life time of growing and learning through our own experiences. The big difference of change; now we’re under God’s rule and authority. We need not fear to think “I am unable or too weak to do what He asks.”

To ‘Follow Him,’ we now have His resources to teach and train us.

His Spirit, to lead and know which way to turn. His strength, for fortitude and stamina. His Faithfulness, with assuranceHis mercies never come to an end. His provision, that He will supply all our needs according to His riches. His help in temptation, to know that He will show us the way of escape. His peace, to learn to cast all our anxieties upon Him.

God’s ordination for us is not a challenge without hope; listen to His promptings, and obey, when you hear His voice: “Follow Me!”