The Mirror of the Word by C.E. White can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Word-Devotions-Reveal-Refine/dp/B0DFZS83C7  To learn more about this author and other works, visit https://cewhitebooks.com/

“But when he who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away.”

—Galatians 1:15–17

Just as God had work prepared for Paul since before he was born, there is work specifically designed and prepared for each of us (Ephesians 2:10). These good works might be in the public eye like speaking—preaching and teaching—or they might be more behind the scenes in general service—hospitality, bearing one another’s burdens, or caring for the poor and oppressed (1 Peter 4:10–11).

Whatever they are, sometimes our callings look strange to those around us, but before we consult with flesh and blood, we need to go away and sit at Christ’s feet.

There are those, even in our Christian community, who will prize what makes sense over devotion to God’s call, because the call isn’t theirs. It’s ours. People probably told Abraham he was foolish to walk out when he didn’t know where he was going. It didn’t make sense for Peter to try fishing again when he hadn’t caught anything all night, nor to walk on water. Gathering a child’s lunch to feed a crowd of five thousand looks foolish from every angle.

There are certainly times we need to consult others for wisdom, but there are also times when we know we’ve received the call of God, and we need to stop worrying whether it makes sense or not.

We just need to start walking in obedience to that calling despite what others think.

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