WE NOW PROCEED to look at another passage: “Were you a slave when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:21–22).
Here the question of one’s calling is raised. Paul takes the position that everyone who is in the Lord is a person who has a calling—is “called in the Lord.” Even slaves were called in the Lord. Every Christian is a called person. We usually use the word “called” to apply to the ministry—he was called to the ministry. Here, however, every disciple was an apostle, one set to do a particular and unique work for God, a work which no one else can do. This puts dignity, purpose, and goal into every Christian life. There are no longer sacred and secular callings; all callings which are callings in the Lord are sacred. Any legitimate work done in His name and for His sake is sacred work.
This gives something greatly needed in the so-called laymen’s work. Now it is looked upon as something second best, a lower level of life. As we have said, the word laos from which the word “laity” is taken, literally means “the chosen people of God.” A layman is a chosen person of God—chosen to be a layman and to work out his calling as a layman. This makes his call as sacred as that of a clergyman.
This calling can be worked out in any set of circumstances—even that of a slave. Man has destined him to be a slave, but within that outer compulsion he is inwardly free—free to carry out his Christian calling. Bound to an assembly line you are inwardly free, for you do it as unto the Lord. Moreover, in your free time you do what you have always been called to do.
O Master of my heart, I am free in Thee. Outer circumstances cannot cramp my calling in Thee. I am free, for Thy will can be wrought out in and through me, no matter what the circumstances may be. I thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Today I shall look on my circumstances as a setting for my calling. My circumstances may color, but not cancel, my calling.
