A Better Calling
Whether or not Mordecai did right by initially concealing his faith and convincing his cousin to do the same, eventually both of them acknowledged, and were willing to sacrifice for, their identity as God’s people.
Jesus told His disciples that if they refused to acknowledge Him before men, then He would refuse to acknowledge them before His Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33 bibrefmatthew10 bibrefmatthew10v32 bibrefmatthew10v33). That means shallow faith that’s easily uprooted by the wind, cowardly faith that’s easily shut down by criticism, faith that still fears man more than God, is not living faith.
We have at least some similarities with the Jews in exile, in particular that it is easier to avoid what makes us strange. After so long living among the worldly we are stained by, or at least tempted to forget that grace trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:11-12 bibreftitus2 bibreftitus2v11 bibreftitus2v12).
Our regular time around Lord’s Table is needful. Here we remember that we have a better calling than this world offers.
- Christ died for worldly sins, “He gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age” (Galatians 1:4 bibrefgalatians1 bibrefgalatians1v4).
- Christ is a better Lord than the world. Everything gained does not compare to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 bibrefphilippians3 bibrefphilippians3v8).
- Christ is not ashamed to call us brothers (Hebrews 2:11 bibrefhebrews2 bibrefhebrews2v11).
- Christ is risen, and in Him, we are raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4 bibrefromans6 bibrefromans6v4).
- We are not alone in Christ, we are members together in His church/body (Romans 12:5 bibrefromans12 bibrefromans12v5).