音频：
视频：
哥林多前书：7:20-24: 20各人蒙召的时候是什么身分，仍要守住这身分。21你是作奴隶蒙召的么？不要因此忧虑。若能以自由，就求自由更好。22因为作奴仆蒙召于主的，就是主所释放的人；作自由之人蒙召的，就是基督的奴仆。23你们是重价买来的，不要作人的奴仆。24弟兄们，你们各人蒙召的时候是什么身分，仍要在神面前守住这身分。
下面这句话能再次帮助我们理解保罗的话。成为一名基督徒并不会减少我们所身处位置的责任。正相反，无论我们身处于生活中的什么位置，它都强化了上帝对我们的呼召。保罗给出了两个例子：处于奴隶的位置或是处于自由人的位置。
约瑟是一个极好的例子，在他身上同时体现了这两个身份。当约瑟在波提乏家做奴仆的时候，他使用上帝赐给他的能力服事主人。他的信心实际上提升了他在主人波提乏眼中的价值，因为约瑟忠心又诚实的工作，就好像他在服事神一样。事实他也确实在服事神，因为他的位置是上帝给他的。
当约瑟成为整个埃及的二号人物时，他也是忠心良善的服事法老。他对法老的服事，使他的家人来到埃及安家成为可能。尽管后来他们的后代沦为埃及人的奴隶，但以色列的后代却兴旺发达并最终成为一个大国。为什么约瑟能成为这样一位杰出的统治者？因为他从没有停止过仆人的身份。同样，在保罗的时代，信心同样强化了那些奴隶主的呼召，因为他们记得自己首先是基督的仆人。
所以不论你是谁，不论你做什么，记住是上帝呼召你，叫你存着前辈的爱心，来服事他也彼此服事。不要轻看你的身份和你做的事情，因为上帝藉着给你的呼召使用你。但也不要高看你的身份和你做的事情，因为不论你的地位有多高，你仍然是基督的仆人。
祷告：主啊我的上帝，不论我做什么，不论你给我的呼召是什么，求你提醒我，我首先是你谦卑的仆人，这是对我的最高呼召。阿们。
1 Corinthians 7:20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. (EHV)
Again, perhaps a propositional statement can help us understand Paul’s words. BECOMING A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT DIMINISH WHAT WE ARE. JUST THE OPPOSITE, IT MAGNIFIES OUR CALLING IN WHATEVER POSITION OF LIFE WE ARE IN. Paul gives two examples, being a slave or a free man.
Joseph was an excellent example of both. When Joseph was Potiphar’s servant, he served him with the strength that God gave him. His faith actually enhanced his value to Potiphar, because Joseph worked faithful and honestly, as if he were serving the Lord himself. And in reality, he was, because that’s the position that God put him in.
When Joseph became second in command of all of Egypt, he served Pharaoh faithfully and well. His service to his king made it possible for his family to come to Egypt and find a safe home there. In spite of becoming slaves to the Egyptians later, the children of Israel prospered and became a great nation. Why was Joseph such an exceptional ruler? Because he never stopped being a servant. So also, faith enhanced the calling of those who held slaves in Paul’s day because they remembered that they were servants of Christ above all.
So whatever you are and whatever you do, remember that God has called you to serve him and one another in humble love. Don’t think less of what you are and what you do, because God is using you with the calling that he has given you. And don’t think more of what you are and what you do, because no matter how high you rise, you are still the servants of Christ.
Prayer: Lord God, in whatever I do, in whatever calling you have given me, remind me that I am your humble servant first and foremost, which is the highest calling of all. Amen.