Quakeranne.com "The Lord bless thee and keep thee...." - Numbers 6:24 Quaker Anne Home Plain Dress Info Plain Quaker Dress Christian Spiritual & Plain Essays Simple Living Skills Simple Living Workshops Learn about life on a farm! Click here to read Quaker Anne's Children's Stories Stories include: How Bees Make Honey A Chicken is Born A Haircut for Sheep A Baby Horse is Born A Baby Goat is Born Lassie Saves a Lamb Contact Prayer Requests Links Library Quaker Resources Peace Quotes Prince of Peace Bible Garden Light a Candle for Peace Prayers for Peace Petition please sign Walking Worthy of the Calling Kimberly Anne Makela, "Quaker Anne" There can be no doubt that living a Christian life in today's world is more challenging than at any other time in the history of Christianity.   In modern society, challenges include the traps and snares of the many forms of diversions that can distract followers of Christ from heeding His instruction to live beyond worldly concerns and seek "first the kingdom of God." (Matthew 6:33)    Christians increasingly face extreme pressure to attain worldly acceptance through status and materialism.   A Christian today also faces an insurmountable amount of commercial influence - almost relentless badgering - to seek personal pleasure and satisfaction before all else in life, as the media incessantly propagates a "me first" attitude that completely excludes the ideals of Christ-like behavior and brotherly love.   But Paul's exhortation urges us as followers of Christ  to set aside worldly pursuits and ambitions and focus on Godly conduct in all matters of life, that we might walk worthy of our calling, or "vocation wherewith ye are called". (Ephesians 4:1) A vocation can be defined as, "The action of God in calling persons or mankind to a state of salvation or union with Himself."[1]    For Christians, this denotes a spiritual life in Christ who provided a living example of how to achieve union with His Father, and then became a propitiatory sacrifice for our sake thus providing the Way for all mankind to do so in generations to come.   Christ Jesus actively and individually guides the steps of His followers today and if we submit to being led, we can depend on our Lord to shepherd us as so beautifully described in the Twenty-Third Psalm. Not surprisingly, walking in step with Christ puts a true Christian out of step with the world.   Thus, peaceful Christian simplicity and selflessness lived uncomplicated by the seductive lures of superficial enticements, often stands out as an unenviable, peculiar presence (see Titus 2:12 - 14)  to a world that can only comprehend the goals and pursuits of the mad dash for material gain and self-satisfaction at any cost.   Assured of God's blessing and direction, George Fox wrote these stirring words: This is the word of the Lord God to you all, a charge to you all in the presence of the living God; be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come; that your life and conduct may preach among all sorts of people, and to them. Then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one; whereby in them ye may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you: then to the Lord God you shall be a sweet savour, and a blessing. Though it may be difficult at times to live apart from the world, we can rely on Christ Jesus every single day to lead and strengthen us on our journey as we resolve to avoid temptations and influences that reject Christ's example and sacrifice for salvation.   This holy obedience will allow us to walk cheerfully over the world, as George Fox said, and help ensure that by our life and conduct we will answer our calling to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10) Quaker Anne 2-22-07 1.  Oxford Universal Dictionary  [return]