For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving to you an example, that you might follow His steps:
Truth to Learn
We have been called by God to follow Christ’s example.
Behind the Words
The word “called” is translated from kaleĊ, which means “to call out an invitation or a command” or “to give a person a name.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense implying past action completed at a point in time. It is also expressed in the passive voice indicating action done to the subject.
Meaning Explained
Continuing on from the previous verse, the reason we are to remain patiently enduring when we suffer wrongfully is because to this very end we were called.
So, what does it mean that we were called? There are many Scripture passages that deal with our calling. Let’s look at just two of them:
For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world that He might put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world that He might put to shame the things which are mighty; (1Cointhians 1:26, 27)
having saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, (2Timothy 1:9)
From these verses we see that our calling from God is associated with God’s choosing us and God’s saving us. The other thing we see is that the choosing, the saving, and the calling are based wholly of God’s work and none of our own. God chose us to be saved, doing all the work of salvation for us. He purchased us as His own possession, and He adopted us as his children. He also called us to serve Him as his servants.
We were not called to be Christians so we could be rich and famous and enjoy all the blessings of this world. Instead, we were called to be Christ-like. This should be our constant overriding desire, as Paul stated:
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; (Phillippians 3:10)
Christ didn’t simply die for us, He suffered! Not only did he suffer physically, but He suffered emotionally in the worst way. He felt deserted! He even felt deserted by God the Father with whom He had enjoyed constant fellowship from eternity past. Yet for three hours on the cross, He suffered the agony of complete isolation, and He did it patiently for you and me.
Application
Are you saved? If so, then you have been called by God to be Christ-like in every way. Are you willing to suffer the same way for Him as He did for you? Are you desirous of following His example? Do you want to really know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering?! Let us all examine how committed we are to God today. Is our Christianity simply a free ticket into heaven? Are we only looking for the blessings of being Christ-like? Or do we want to really be like Him… even to the point of suffering for Him and enduring it patiently like He did for us?
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved