“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” Ephesians 4:1 (ESV)
Well, it’s time to put on our shoes and walk worthy. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 are where the rubber meets the road. This chapter starts Paul’s practical applications, what it means to daily live out a life of Christ-centered devotion. He even starts in verse one, saying that he urges the Christians at Ephesus to “walk in a manner worthy” of their calling.
What does that mean?
It’s a good thing that Paul goes on to explain, or else I would be totally confused. How in the world could be possibly hope to live our lives in a manner that is worthy of all that Christ has done for us? We are incapable of such worthiness on our own. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. We need the power of Christ and His resurrection. We need God’s gifts and equipping. We need the body of Christ around us, supporting us.
God has given each of us unique gifts, talents, and callings to accomplish what He is calling us to do. The goal is for all of us to attain maturity in Christ and positions of leadership. I saw a facebook post recently that talked about a team-building exercise where the whole team was running but they had to stay together and cross the finish line at the same time. As I am thinking about all of us growing in maturity together, I can’t help but think of that team of players, encouraging and supporting one another as they all strive for the finish line.
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)
Ephesians 1 was about believing what God says about me rather than what the world says. He has a calling and purpose for each one of us. Ephesians 2 emphasized that we are a part of a team, all striving for that finish line together. Ephesians 3 reminded us to establish a deep and firm foundation in God’s love so we don’t get derailed by the storms of this life. Now, we come to Ephesians 4, where it is all coming together in some practical advice for living.
The purpose of your calling and talents is the ministry of Christ, leading others to Him and equipping those who are already Christians. The goal is maturity and unity in the body of Christ.
In order to accomplish this, we have to put off our old selves.
“But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24 (ESV)
Renew the mind and put on your new self. Your new self is a reflection of the image of God in His righteousness and holiness.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (ESV)
This transformation happens when we spend time in God’s word and apply it to our lives. We walk out our devotion in action. We walk worthy.
So, what do we need to do specifically?
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32 (ESV)
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE:
—Speak Truth, don’t lie.
—When you get angry, don’t sin. Also, don’t hold onto your anger. Clear the air before the sun goes down.
—Work for a living rather than stealing.
—Share with anyone in need.
—Your words should build up others rather than tear down. They should bring grace to everyone who hears instead of corrupting them.
—Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.
—Put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. Instead of these things, be kind to one another, be tenderhearted, forgive one another (as God forgave you).
It can be really easy for me to hold on to offenses. It doesn’t seem to matter if it is something someone did or something I imagined. I can do a fantastic job of whipping myself up into anger and resentment all by my lonesome. When I am running late, frustrated, or have a headache, this tendency of mine is so much worse. My goal for an action step for this summer is to slow down my reaction as much as possible. To breathe and wait and respond more like Christ than with the bitterness, wrath, anger, and tearing down to which my old nature reverts.
Action Step: Consider your old nature tendencies and how they relate to this list of practical instructions. Do you have trouble with stealing (even the littlest things), lying (even to make people feel better), holding on to anger, tearing down others with your words, greedily holding on to your blessings while others are in need, etc? Let’s make an intentional choice to exchange those reactions for a walk that is worthy of the calling God has given us. It’s time to put on our shoes and walk worthy!
Dear God, thank you that you love us too much to leave us the way that we are. You transform us, giving us your own righteousness and holiness. You are full of grace and forgiveness for us. Please help us to extend grace and forgiveness to others. Give us the strength to walk worthy of your calling on our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.