1 Corinthians 7:17-20 

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Personal Testimony

         Last Sunday, married couples were given an assignment. What was the assignment all about? Husband and wife will share with their spouse a personal experience of transformation that Christ did in their life before they go to sleep.

         A husband shared that before he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, he’s scared of speaking before a large audience; but, after he trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior, he’s not very confident yet but fear before audience is gone.

A wife shared that before she trusted Christ as her Lord and Savior, she’s always worried about financial supports, but after she trusted Christ as her Lord and Savior, worries about finances slowly fade away. Did you experience that?

Isn’t it amazing to personally hear that your spouse has transformational experiences that they can share with others and praise God for?

To worry about finances and scared of audience are instinctive to anyone. But to testify of what Christ has done in our life does not come naturally. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit of Christ, and wait until you are empowered from on high. The Holy Spirit inspires us; he teaches us what to say. Let us meditate on John 15:26-27, ²⁶When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. ²⁷ And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

         Anyone who has personally experienced transformation in their life will not stay silent and quiet. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit of truth inspires us to tell and testify of the truth we personally experience with him. Well, did you share with your husband or wife about your personal transformation? Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit of truth. If you can readily tell your spouse or your family about your personal transformation that Christ did in your life, remember it, and that will be your story when you are called to testify for the grace of God in your life.

         God called all believers to witness and testify for his transformational work.

1.  Call

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 

         How do you interpret it when it says that we should live as believer in any situation the Lord assigned us when he called us? Do you strongly accept that the situation you have right now has been specifically assigned by the Lord?

Or, do you think that you personally choose to be in your current situation? When the Lord Jesus called his first disciples, some of them were fishermen. Other disciples had different work experiences when they were called.

Since fishing was very common livelihood among the disciples, Christ had instructed the first group of disciples in Mark 1:16-18, ¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.

         Fishing has similarity to making disciples. Smart fishermen use proper bait for particular fish; they know the right time and place for fishing. The Lake of Galilee can be dangerous during stormy days. Seasoned fishermen use proper fishing equipment. Fishing can be fun and relaxing, if you prepare carefully.

Ice Fishing

         In winter, fishermen go ice-fishing. Ice-fishing requires a strategy which is very different from fishing in spring, summer or fall. In winter, the lake water turns into very hard ice. The first time we went ice-fishing, we bought manual auger to make hole into the thick ice in the river. The ice was so hard to drill. We did not have fishing tent also, and the temperature was very cold, about -20 Celsius.

         The next ice-fishing experience was much better. A friend allowed us to use his shack or cabin. We brought firewood and made fire inside the shack. When we started drilling with the manual auger, a fisherman was passing by and offered to drill fishing holes for us with his motorized auger. In that ice-fishing experience, we were kept warm and did not exert much effort to drill fishing hole.

         Ice-fishing in winter or fishing in summer can be fun if you know the time to fish and place where to fish, and you smartly prepared for your fishing expedition.

         Ice-fishing can be very frustrating if you are not prepared for it. If you have powerful instrument to drill hole into the thick hard ice, ice-fishing can be much easier and relaxing. Similarly, it can be very frustrating to share the gospel of Christ if you are not prepared for it. So, pray and wait until to receive power from the Holy Spirit, and you will share the gospel with gladness in your heart.

Every believer is called to make disciples. And the situation you have right now could be where the Lord assigns you to make disciples. Do your best to be skillful in what you do, master it, be expert in it so that observers may follow your ways. Your potential disciples are observing you. Pray that the Lord will inspire you to testify about his grace to them when his divine appointment comes.

Someone may ask: How can I identify the right person for me to disciple?

Together, let us meditate on what it narrated in Acts 15:37-41. ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

         Observe unusual situations that you have no control of: situation that may occur from your regular activities. Your potential disciple could be the person who may favor you. Barnabas and John Mark were cousins, while Paul and Silas served the church together. Likewise, it is possible that your potential disciple could be a relative, classmate, officemate or someone who wants to be with you.

         Can you accept that the Lord had assigned you even in difficult situation? Difficult situation can be most strategic for the Lord to get our attention. Usually, we desire tranquil and relaxing moments, and we tend to forget the Lord. Do you not plan for convenience in life? Surely, it is natural for anyone, believers or not.

         But, keeping our mandate to witness for Christ is what counts the most.

2.  Count

¹⁸ Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 

         How should we explain this: “Keeping God’s commands is what counts?” How do we internalize “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing?”

         Since circumcision is not necessarily confusing to most of us in relation to practice of our belief in God, what situation can possibly be compared to? The idea of circumcision is identity of Jewish background while uncircumcision pertains to Gentile background. Jewish or Gentile background is nothing in the eyes of God. As proof of faith in God, keeping his commands is what counts.

Obeying his commands is what the Lord prepared to reward. The Scripture was written for us to know the things and activities acceptable to God. The Lord decides what is good or what is right in his eyes. So, activities we do on our own initiatives and efforts are counted as filthy rags in the eyes of the Lord. Really?

         Together, let us reflect on what it declares in Isaiah 64:6, ⁶All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

         We have to be prayerful and seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that God will be pleased with everything we do and earn eternal treasure for us, even when recipients of our kindness and goodness cannot easily recognize them.

Housewife

         Have you ever come across social media uploads where it describes the sacrifices of housewife? Someone complains that nobody notices her housework unless the housewife hasn’t done it. No one notices that she prepares breakfast, washes dishes and clothes, cleans the entire house, and barely takes a break. She does all possible household chores you can think or imagine. The wife may even shovel snow in winter or mow the grass in summer, tends to flower or vegetable garden, or buys groceries. What else? She may even do carpentry works!

         Husbands and their children may give surprise mother’s day celebration, and they may have thought that it would be sufficient compensation to the hard work of the housewife. So, housewives, who may feel like that they were not appreciated for their sacrifices, complain on social media about their sacrifices.

         They may have thought that embarrassing their husbands and children on social media would make a difference and awaken them to be more sympathetic. That is delightful to ordinary individuals, but for Christians what should we do?

Together, let us learn from what it admonishes us in Philippians 4:4-7.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

         All Christians are expected to rejoice always. Do you have any argument? Our natural tendency is to complain about our situation, but to rejoice always is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Everybody and not just housewives, whenever we sense like nobody appreciates what we did or sacrificed for, pause for a moment and pray to be filled and inspired by the Holy Spirit, and when you sense joyful peace despite difficulties, we praise and thank God, not complain.

         It’s normal for anyone to complain or escape struggles. We want to venture on better situation. But there’s no guaranty that new environments will be better than the previous situation. Be prayerful before making decision. Wait until you sense peace from God as confirmation that your decision leads you where God assigns you to be situated. In the meantime, continue to pray for godly wisdom.

3.  Continue

²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

         How should we explain this statement to ordinary listener or to a child? What situation should we continue to remain and how do we identify if we continue to remain in particular situation? Apostle Paul addressed the unmarried, widows, married, circumcised and uncircumcised; in the succeeding verses, he also mentioned the slave, free and virgin. The term “situation” particularly pertains to social status. Does it include financial status or even place of work?

         The term “should” offers better preferences but not necessarily obligatory or mandatory. Meaning: Anyone may choose to remain in the situation they were assigned when God called them; and that is, if you have firm confidence that God called you to remain in the same situation. So, make sure that you sense joyful peace as confirmation that you continue to remain in the same situation.

Politicians

Continue to remain in the same situation is not very popular in politics.

Many politicians may readily switch to another political party if it’s favorable to their political career. Well, we can learn from the practice of faith of the friends of Prophet Daniel despite a political pressure from King Nebuchadnezzar.

Let’s reflect on what it narrated in Daniel 3:14-18 ¹⁴Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

         You know what happened next. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a blazing furnace, but the Lord kept them safe and alive. They did not waver in their faith in the Lord despite life threatening situation. They remained faithful, and their courage to face danger was practical proof that God is powerful enough to save faithful believers. And the result was favorable to them. It says in Daniel 3:28-30, ²⁸Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” ³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

         Our life as believer should serve as practical proof of the grace and love of God so that observers will come to believe in the Lord. When we are challenged to continue and remain in the situation we were assigned when God called us; we should be ready that difficulty may possibly happen. But struggles can serve as testing, if we remain true to our calling or there is still hesitation on our part.

Let’s meditate on what it declares in Hebrews 11:1, ¹Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

         By faith, we trust that God is faithful; he does mysterious things for his glory. Does God give clear go signal also when he wants us to move on? Despite many concerns in life, the Lord enables us to visualize what he designed for us whether we remain in the same situation where he called us or to move on.

Can you believe it? May God increase our faith in him and give us wisdom!

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