Called to Bless Others

Reading: 1 Peter 3:8–12

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. 

On the contrary, repay evil with blessing.” 

1 Peter 3:9

Reflection:

We are called to bless even when it is hard. 

Our calling shines brightest in how we treat others.

In a world that often rewards retaliation and sharp words, God calls His people to a higher way. Writing to believers facing pressure and misunderstanding, Peter urges them to live “in harmony with one another,” to be compassionate, humble, and tenderhearted (1 Peter 3:8). Instead of mirroring the spirit of the age, we are invited to reflect the character of Christ, who answered hostility with mercy and suffering with forgiveness. Our calling shines most clearly when kindness is costly and grace feels undeserved.

Trevor Hudson reminds us that Scripture distinguishes between bios life—our fragile, temporary existence—and zoe life—the eternal life God gives through Christ. When we turn toward Jesus in trust, “the life of the Eternal One flows into and through us,” reshaping our hearts by gospel values. We begin to see people as Jesus sees them and to love as He loves. This zoe life enables what once seemed impossible: blessing our enemies, forgiving those who have hurt us, and refusing to let anger rule our spirits (Ephesians 4:26; Matthew 5:44). What we cannot produce by effort, God forms within us by His Spirit.

To bless others, then, is not weakness but spiritual strength flowing from Christ’s life within us. As we choose gentle words over harsh ones and forgiveness over resentment, we become living witnesses to God’s transforming grace. Scripture assures us that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12). Every act of kindness becomes part of His work of healing in a broken world. Today, let us look for simple ways to encourage, affirm, and extend grace, trusting that God will use even small acts to reflect His love.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your eternal life in Christ. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may see others as You see them and respond with compassion and peace. Teach us to bless even when it is hard, and make our lives instruments of Your grace and kindness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Footnote:

In the New Testament, two Greek words are often used for “life.” Bios refers to our physical, everyday existence—our work, routines, and material concerns. Zoē refers to the spiritual and eternal life that comes from God through Christ. Jesus came not merely to improve our bios, but to fill it with His zoē (John 10:10), so that our ordinary lives may be transformed by His divine life within us.

Practice:

Speak encouragement to someone today.

Called to Holiness

Reading: 1 Peter 1:13–25

“Be holy because I am holy.” — 1 Peter 1:16

Holiness is often misunderstood as something distant, severe, or reserved for spiritual giants. Yet Peter presents it as a daily way of life rooted in grace. He urges us to “roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, and be ready to receive the gift” of God’s grace (1 Peter 1:13, MSG). Because we have been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ” (v.19), our lives no longer belong to ourselves. We are invited to offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1), shaped by gratitude rather than driven by obligation. Holiness begins not with heroic effort, but with humble surrender.

This simple obedience was beautifully lived out by Thérèse of Lisieux. In her convent, she lived with sisters who irritated her deeply. One constantly clicked her rosary during prayer. Another often spoke harshly to her. Yet instead of complaining, Thérèse chose a different way. She smiled at them, spoke kindly, prayed for them, and served them quietly. She once wrote, “I resolved to treat her as I would treat someone I loved very much.” This was holiness in action—not dramatic gestures, but small, hidden acts of love. In these unnoticed choices, she was simply doing God’s will.

What makes this calling even more wondrous is that God’s holiness does not keep Him at a distance. By His Spirit, He dwells within us, gently guiding, teaching, and shaping our hearts (John 14:26; Romans 8:14). Holiness is not cold perfection; it is warm, living communion with God. As Eugene Peterson reminds us, holiness is an “interior fire” that brings life and joy into ordinary faithfulness. As we walk closely with the Spirit, choosing love over irritation and obedience over self-will, we are “being transformed into His image” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Even our everyday responses begin to reflect His extraordinary grace.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for calling us to a holiness that is lived in love and faithfulness. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may respond with patience, kindness, and humility. Teach us to do Your will in small, hidden ways, and to reflect the character of Jesus in every situation. Shape our hearts and our habits for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Called by Grace

Reading: Romans 1:1–7

We are called because of grace, not merit.

I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Romans 1:7 

The life of the Apostle Paul stands as a living testimony that God’s call is never a reward for our merit, but a miracle of His mercy. Once an enemy of Christ, Paul was transformed into “a servant of Christ Jesus,” set apart not by his achievements but by grace. He could say with humility, “I am what I am by the grace of God” (1 Corinthians 15:10). In Romans 1:6, he reminds believers that they are “called to belong to Jesus Christ,” showing that our identity is not something we earn, but something we receive. As Scripture declares, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), proving that God’s love always moves toward us before we ever move toward Him.

Because we are “loved by God and called to be his holy people,” our daily walk changes from striving for approval into responding with gratitude. Paul’s greeting of “grace and peace” reveals the rhythm of Christian life: grace received first, peace flowing afterward. Through Christ, “we have peace with God” (Romans 5:1), not because of our performance, but because of His finished work. We do not work for a place at God’s table; we serve from a place already secured by His love. As Eugene Peterson observed, grace frees us from the exhausting need to prove ourselves.

When this truth settles in our hearts, it releases us from fear, comparison, and self-condemnation. We no longer serve to impress God, but to honor Him with thankful lives. Grace forgives our past and reshapes our future, training us “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (Titus 2:11–12). Henri Nouwen reminds us that grace calls us “beloved” even when we feel unworthy. Like Paul, we discover that God’s mercy does not merely rescue us—it sends us, empowering us to extend to others the same compassion we have received.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for calling us by grace and not by merit. We praise You for loving us when we were weak and for giving us new life in Christ. Help us to rest in Your mercy, walk in Your peace, and serve with grateful hearts. May our lives reflect the grace we have received.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s Call, God’s Power

 

Availability Over Ability

Reading: Jeremiah 1:1–10

“Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ … 

You must go to everyone I send you to.” 

Jeremiah 1:7

When God first speaks to Jeremiah, He does not wait for him to feel confident, seasoned, or prepared. Instead, He tells him, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Yet Jeremiah immediately points to his limitations: “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” Like him, we often wait for a surge of confidence or a polished résumé before we feel fit for God’s service. We focus on our lack of experience, our trembling voices, or our fear of failure, forgetting that God is not looking first for our expertise, but for our availability.

The beauty of God’s call is that it is anchored in His presence rather than our prowess. God does not argue with Jeremiah’s weakness; He answers it with His promise: “Do not be afraid… for I am with you.” Then He reaches out and touches Jeremiah’s mouth, saying, “I have put my words in your mouth.” The work does not rest on Jeremiah’s confidence but on God’s faithfulness. When God sends us, He also supplies us. When He calls, He equips. His power becomes most visible when we reach the end of our own resources and learn to depend fully on Him.

Today’s passage invites us to name the fears that keep us silent or hesitant—fear of rejection, fear of inadequacy, fear of getting it wrong. God does not dismiss these fears, but He refuses to let them define us. He reminds us that we were known before we were formed, shaped by His purpose, and sustained by His Spirit. As we surrender our “not enough” to His “more than enough,” He transforms our hesitation into obedience and our uncertainty into a courageous “yes.”

Practice

Name one fear or insecurity that holds you back—at home, at work, or in your relationships. Offer it honestly to God and ask Him to replace it with trust.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You that You do not call the equipped, but equip the called. Forgive us for the times we have let our fears shrink our obedience. Place Your words in our mouths and Your courage in our hearts today. Help us rely not on our own strength, but on Your constant presence. Amen.

Called from Ordinary Life

Where Work Meets Worship

Reading: Luke 5:1–11

“Because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 

Luke 5:5

Jesus often bypasses grand temples to find us right where we are—in the middle of the workday, surrounded by the tools of our trade and the weight of our responsibilities. In Luke 5, He meets Peter not in a moment of spiritual triumph, but in the exhaustion of a failed night’s labor. As Peter washes his empty nets, Jesus steps into his boat and turns a place of business into a place of revelation. What looks ordinary to us becomes sacred when Christ is present, reminding us that our routines are never “just” routines to Him.

When Jesus tells Peter to push out into deep water, it defies human logic. Peter is the professional; he knows the rhythms of the sea, and he knows the fish are not biting. Yet he chooses obedience over expertise: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will.” In that moment, trust triumphs over discouragement. Following Christ always involves learning to believe His word more than our instincts, His promise more than our past disappointments.

This story speaks directly into our own crowded days—our inboxes, chores, meetings, and unfinished projects. Christ still calls us in the middle of ordinary life, inviting us to offer our efforts to Him. When we place our “empty nets” in His hands, He fills them with meaning and purpose. Peter leaves everything not because his work was worthless, but because he has discovered something greater. Jesus does not interrupt our lives to diminish them; He enters them to transform them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we offer You our ordinary days, our work, and our weariness. Teach us to trust Your word beyond our comfort and calculations. Help us to follow Jesus with willing hearts, believing that You can use our simple obedience for Your glory. Amen.

Listening and Living the Word

 

The Sacred Rhythm

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 

1 Samuel 3:10

God has always been a God who speaks with purpose, calling us out of the noise and into His presence. To hear Him rightly, we must move beyond passive listening and adopt a posture of total surrender. Like young Samuel in the temple, our hearts must be tuned to the frequency of heaven, ready to respond with, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” This isn't merely a request for information; it is an act of availability that acknowledges His authority over every corner of our lives.

When we receive Scripture with humility, it becomes more than ancient text—it becomes a living voice that forms our character and guides our decisions. God’s Word does not merely comfort us; it sends us into a broken world equipped for service. We find that hearing and obeying are never truly separated in the life of a disciple; they are the rhythmic "inhale" and "exhale" of a soul shaped by Christ. As we lean into His instructions, His truth leads us away from the bondage of self and into a life of freedom, courage, and joyful faithfulness.

True transformation occurs when we stop treating God's Word as a suggestion and start embracing it as our lifeline. It is the light unto our path that requires us to actually take the next step in faith. Whether in a quiet moment of prayer or the chaotic demands of the day, our obedience is the highest form of worship. By choosing to act on what He reveals, we prove that we aren't just hearers who forget, but followers who are being daily renewed by the power of the Spirit.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for being a God who speaks and desires to be known. Quiet the distractions in my heart so that I may recognize Your voice above the clamor of the world. Give me the courage to not only listen but to move in immediate obedience to Your leadings. May my life be a faithful echo of Your Word today and always. Amen.