S153P5 – These we must accept: a life assigned
1 Cor. 7: 17-20
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
When we join God’s family, a great change occurs. From the moment of justification through our time here being sanctified, many changes will occur. As we study the scriptures and learn more about the Lord, our perspective changes. As the scales fall from our eyes and our hearts become softened, we experience life and this world as they truly are. These changes are great; they are critical to our development. It is possible, however, that we have expected other changes to follow our transformation. Some have decided in their own minds what God would or should change in their lives as they become his, but it is for him to decide what these lives should look like.
We could survey the lives of dozens of Christians who all live according to God’s ways yet still live very different lives. Some will have children, and some will not. Some will be married, and some will be single. Some some will be wealthy, and some will be poor. Some will live long lives, and some will die young. We must be careful when we look at others as our examples of how to live this Christian life. That must be about godliness. Otherwise, we can be trying to live someone else’s life instead of merely trying to mirror their character. To follow a godly example is beneficial. To try to be someone else is not. You cannot live the life God has planned for you when you covet the lives of others.
The course of my life has not been an accident. The circumstances of your life are not random. No one has a perfect life, but we all can live in a godly manner. There are some things which will not change in this life no matter how hard we pray. There are some things which are merely part of our assigned days here. Job reminds us that we must accept both good from God as well as evil. [Job 2:10] Our lives will have both, and we cannot alter that. That is the nature of living in this order of things. God has changed us from lost to saved, from broken to restored, and that change is sufficient. Father, help us to accept and appreciate the lives You have assigned us and to live them with godliness.