The distinction between salvation and vocation is critical for understanding the Christian life, and how we respond to the call to love is a key aspect of this. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ, not as a result of works. It is not something that we earn, but something we receive freely. Vocation, however, is our calling to live out the implications of that salvation. This call includes obedience to God’s commandments, and particularly the commandment to love one another.
The commandment to love is not a new requirement for salvation but the defining characteristic of those who have already received salvation. The love commandment is to love others as Christ loved us. This love is not merely a feeling, but a concrete action. It involves actively caring for others, meeting their needs, and pursuing their well-being. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters show that they do not have the love of God in them. Love is expressed in deed and truth, not just with words or with the tongue. It is a matter of practical action and self-sacrificial service.
When we understand obedience to the love commandment as our vocation, we see that it is not a burden but a privilege. It is not about trying to earn God’s favor, but about participating in God’s work of transforming the world through love. The love that we are called to embody is a reflection of Christ’s own love, which was demonstrated through his sacrificial death on the cross. We are called to follow his example by loving one another in the same way that he loved us, including being willing to lay down our lives for our friends.
The call to love is not limited to those who are easy to love, but extends to all people. It requires that we confront injustice, and show compassion and mercy, while rejecting hatred, envy, and strife. This is a challenging and transforming vocation. By embracing our vocation to love, we grow in our faith and become more like Christ, and participate in the work of God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Prayer
Gracious God,
We thank You for the precious gift of salvation, freely given through faith in Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that it is not by our works, but by Your grace that we are saved. Help us to fully embrace this gift and to live out its implications in our daily lives.
Lord, we recognize our vocation to love one another as Christ loved us. This commandment is not a burden, but a privilege and a calling to participate in Your work of transforming the world through love. Teach us to actively care for others, to meet their needs, and to pursue their well-being with genuine compassion.
May our love be expressed in deed and truth, not just with words. Empower us to serve selflessly, following the example of Christ who laid down His life for us. Let our actions reflect Your love, and may we be willing to lay down our lives for our friends.
Help us to extend this love to all people, even those who are difficult to love. Give us the courage to confront injustice, to show compassion and mercy, and to reject hatred, envy, and strife. Transform us through this challenging vocation, so that we may grow in our faith and become more like Christ.
As we embrace our calling to love, may we participate in the work of Your Kingdom here on earth. Let our lives be a testament to Your love and grace, and may we bring glory to Your name in all that we do.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
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