As the sons and daughters of God, we live to serve and are governed by a higher authority —God, Who created all things for His good pleasure. We are called to His higher purpose and are subject to His higher standard of behavior. We do not live for ourselves alone. We live to serve God and to serve (minister to) others. Yet, within that high calling we have great freedom to enjoy life and explore the wonders of God’s creation. We are only commanded to live within limits of the boundary of God’s righteousness, beyond which is only that which would destroy us, that would steal our God imparted glory and void our eternal reward.
But our submission to our higher calling and purpose is great reward indeed. Both now in this earthly life, and forever, in the world that is to come. It is hard in these perishing bodies of sin to fully comprehend the magnitude of the glory God has prepared for us. But He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us as a deposit on the enormous and uncontainable riches and the glory to come.
Therefore, as children of the Most High God we have exclusive access to the fullness of the measure of God’s power and provision. Nothing is denied to us. All things have been given to us to enjoy.
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? “ Romans 8:32
Of mankind, God, through the psalmist, reveals that all things are within our authority and control.
“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen—Even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:4-9
We have the authority from God, our Father to speak a Word in faith and know with the confidence of Jesus that it will come to pass. But we must be diligent to guard our mouths from speaking careless and vainglorious utterances, particularly the idle words of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
“Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” 1 Samuel 2:3
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29
So, avoid at all costs the temptation to live in the low life of judgmentalism, cynicism, negativism, criticism, and pessimism. These are all thieves of your peace, and they are vexations to the soul. They not only steal your joy, but they can affect your physical health and wellbeing. This is why we are told to think on things above not on things of this world.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
This kind of thinking is pure and good for the soul. This kind of thinking works with the Holy Spirit, Who is all the while working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure. [Philippians 2:13]
Now the higher calling that we have in Christ is not some lofty place where we walk around with halos on our heads as perfect beings whose feet never touch the ground. Not by a long shot! Just like those whose who have gone before us we are accepted in the beloved as frail, earthen vessels. Somebody put it this way, “we’re all a bunch of “cracked pots.” But we contain priceless treasures. God abides in us; Jesus abides in us. the Holy Spirit abides in us!!! That alone is a reason to shout, AMEN! So why not do it? Go ahead, just shout, AMEN!!!!
We are called to live the high life indeed and to ride upon the high places of the earth.[Isaiah 58:14] The greatest riches of this world are only pale shadows of the riches of Heaven. The good news is this, God has given us both to have and enjoy. The more we are transformed to think, speak, and act like God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, being imitators of God as dear little children, the more of the high life we get to walk in and to minister to others.
Glory to God!!!