ABDICATING OUR CALL

by Glenice Mills

We as Christians are truly blessed. We are the Lord’s royal priesthood, a people belonging to Him.

Stop and think about this: we are ROYALTY. What is royalty? It is a position of high standing, of authority, a set apart people, worthy of honour. We are children of the King with a divine royal decree upon our individual lives – a command to go and do what He has called us to.

We have a responsibility to do ALL we can to fulfill ALL God requires. When we don’t, we can ‘abdicate’ the divine position given to us, and give up the precious gifts we have been given.

To abdicate means a failure to fulfill a responsibility or duty. It is relinquishing a throne, a right, and a power.

In recent British history we saw where a king abdicated, changing the course of history. When this happened it meant a new person was needed to fill the position. It was not the one ordained to do it, but rather the next one in a hierarchal position was put in place. As a result a whole new lineage began.

It is no different for us as Christians. It happens to us spiritually. We can abdicate our calls. This will result in someone else taking the position, as the Lord still has to get the job done. I have often heard someone say that they weren’t the first to do a particular call in God, that He had given it to someone else, but they had chosen not to walk in it.

So, I wonder how many of us even now are or have abdicated our call for whatever reason? How does the Lord feel about this? How can we make sure we don’t lose our way and abdicate what was the Lord’s plan for our lives?

I know there are one’s at this time who have chosen to walk away from God’s plan for their lives. This grieves God’s heart. I have felt His grief as He has given opportunity to many but they have succumbed to fears, and/or self-will. The truth is: our life is not our own, we are bought for a price – the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our sins.

Our King has bestowed upon us a most precious gift – our FREE WILL. Sadly this is a gift that we can take for granted. God has a plan for our lives however He never crosses our free will. He brings many opportunities across our path to steer us in the right direction.  He never coerces or places demands on us. That’s why the enemy loves to bring control – whether that is through a family member/s, the church, in the work place or through some other wrong authority in our lives. 

James 4:17
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

This is a powerful Scripture. We can interpret this to mean when we knowingly sin we are answerable. However if we take it a bit deeper we could also say, if we, by our free will decide we will not walk in what we know we should then we are in sin. As we know there is always a consequence to sin. It does bring death – death to dreams, our vision, and our soul – our minds, will and emotions.

1 Timothy 1:19
having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck

The reality is: we can hide in our games, thinking we can get away with compromise, justifying our actions, and putting things off, however our conscience will become seared, opening the door to deception. We deceive ourselves thinking it won’t matter, that it will sort itself out, or it will go away.
Who do we think we are? God is not mocked!

The big question is: what do you value most? Walking in God’s perfect will for your life or choosing what is often an easier way, bringing with it a sense of false peace and security?

Remember: there is always a cost in following the Lord. Be careful you don’t abdicate His divine position by choosing what appears an easier way.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.