“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20.

There is an old familiar hymn that the deacons would raise during devotional services that resonates in my heart and reminds me that a charge s keep I have . . . because Jesus paid the price on Calvary’s cross for the sins of the world and all to Him I owe!: “A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, Who gave His son my soul to save, And fit it for the sky!

A charge in context of this hymn can be defined as to entrust (someone) with a task as a duty or responsibility: Every born-again believer has a charge to keep- “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.

We have a job to do—our greatest example has been set forth by our Lord and Savior… the Gospel of Luke gives us an account of Jesus at twelve years old teaching in the temple. He attended the yearly Feast of the Passover with His parents in Jerusalem; however, when they left, he stayed behind without their knowledge…they immediately turned back and found Him sitting in the temple teaching: “And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:48-49.

My friends, we have all been entrusted with the Good News…. we are to be faithful witnesses for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; the question is how do we stand today in word and deed? “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:13-15.

Every born-again believer is held accountable to reach out to the lost, dying, and hurting souls of this world-are you going about our Fathers business today– are you giving of you time, talents, and resources to further the outreach of the Gospel? Our soul salvation has come by great drops of blood… “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20.

My friends, as dearly beloved of the Lord, we must work out our own soul salvation with a healthy fear, reverence, and respect for our Creator…the act of depending on Him to provide all that we need to be conformed into His image and used for His glory. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13.

May God help us to remain steadfast to His calling!

To serve the present age,

My calling to fulfill:

Oh, may it all my pow’rs engage

To do my Master’s will!

                                                                     -Charles Wesley