Called of Jesus Christ

 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: Romans 1:6

Today I am going back a bit in Romans chapter 1, to pick up the first few scriptures.

The apostle Paul had once been killing the Christians of the early church until the day came that he met Jesus and his life forever changed. He then took on the title, of being an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Because he had become a Christian, he received grace and that title for his obedience and faith in Jesus Christ. 

And in verse 6, he had been called of Jesus Christ. 

But what was he called to? He was called in to the service of God, to preach the gospel of Christ instead of killing them, now he was preaching to them.

Thinking on that part of the scripture, I wondered. Was I called of Jesus Christ?

I had accepted him when I was 8 years old. Did he have a calling for me even back then? Could that church I was going to take that away from me? 

I didn't know, because, at that time, I hadn't really understood that I had really been brainwashed to a degree and it would take weeks to understand that the answers to those questions were yes, and no. Yes, he had a calling for me, and no, the church could not take away my salvation. 

To add to that, even though it hadn't been a part of that study at the time, I would like to say that as Christians, we are preordained to our calling from the beginning of time. Not from the beginning of our lives, but way before even that.  Consider this scripture:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ephesians 1:5-6

He knew us BEFORE the world even began! How is that possible? I don't know. It is one of the mysteries of God that maybe someday we will get to know when we are in heaven. Until then, I am just satisfied that he knew me, and called me even before my life began eons later!

However, reading these verses was not convincing on that day years ago, because of what I had learned at that church. It would take much more of the Holy Spirit's teaching to break through my thick hard brain. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. bless your day