Bought for Great Things

We are called to greatness, and not ordinariness. Jesus bought us with His blood in order to glorify Himself in us. Saved in Him, we can only grow from glory to glory. It is dangerous and very wasteful for us to remain at one place. We must set our minds and hearts to move in His direction, onto greater works always.

Main Readings: John 14: 12; Eph. 2: 1-10, 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23)

Great means distinguished, inspiring awe, large, numerous, or outstanding

This is what the Lord has bought us to:

1.     Distinguished in righteousness (Mt 5:14-16)

2.     Awe-inspiring to normal detractors (See Acts 2:43)

3.     Large territory of Influence (See Acts 1:8)

4.     Numerous offspring/disciples (See John 15:5. Cf. Gen. 12: 2)

5.     Unique or outstanding in ministry and gifting (See 1 Cor. 12: 4,11)

His calling is against our human tendency to:

1.     Be stuck at one place for our own glory as in Babel(Gen 11: 5-8)

2.     Live in ordinariness as  on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-4)

3.     Be lukewarm (Rev. 3:16)

How we can advance to Great Things

1.     Challenge unnecessary weight, and keep on board only that which will make you advance towards your calling. Drop bad habits, inconsistent ambitions,  associations, etc. (Heb. 12:1-2)

2.     Do not despise your small beginnings (Zech. 4:10, 1 Tim. 4:12)

a.     Be faithful in little things  (Luke 15:10)

b.    Remember God begins small/uses unwise (1 Cor. 1:27)

3.     Keep growing, in spite of everything

a.     Consider this stage and state as small, otherwise you have arrived (Php 3:13)

b.    Keep learning, and do not get bitter at failures (Heb. 12:12)

4.     Remain in Christ, loyal to His body (Jn 15: 5, 1 Cor. 12:26)

5.     Accept grooming and discipline (Jn 15: 2, Heb. 12: 7-11)

6.     Study to show yourself approved (2 Tim 2:15)

7.     Build yourself up in the faith through prayer and outreach (Jude 20-23)