Day 29

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”  —EPHESIANS 4:1

The phrase “live a life worthy of the calling” (NIV) is better translated, “walk worthily of the calling you have received.” The King James Version translates it, “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.” The English Standard Version says, “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you are called.” The point is the Christian life is a walk.

Some Christians I know talk of the Christian life more as a stand. You will hear them say they stand for this.… and they stand for that…. and they stand for the other! But they never walk! They never progress! They don’t seem to grow! They just stand! There is a ‘stand’ position for Paul wrote, ‘Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes’ (Ephesians 6:11-12), but that stand is a defensive posture in warfare with the principalities and powers that are warring against us.

How do we walk and make progress on this journey? Paul goes on to say, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). Walking worthily requires four characteristics. These are all relational qualities in which we are to make every effort in keeping the unity of the Spirit to live as one. We will talk about the first two characteristics today and the other two tomorrow.

First, “Be completely humble.” This is a disposition toward ourselves. Living humbly is not debasing ourselves, but recognizing all we are and have is by the grace, mercy, and goodness of God. That is the ground of true humility. When we are not humble, we are proud, and when we are proud, we fall. We do not walk worthily of our calling!

Then he says, “Be gentle.” Gentleness is a disposition toward others. Whether we agree with people or not, or like them or not, we are to be caring, considerate, understanding and gentle in our dealings with them. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well …” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8). This is walking worthily of our calling. Who can I be gentle with today?

PRAYER: Dear Father, Help me to live a life that moves forward, growing and maturing in my walk with You. Keep me humble and gentle with others, and always mindful to act in a manner worthy of my calling as a Christian.

TO REFLECT UPON: Taking an honest look, am I humble and gentle in my interaction with others or do I sometimes allow pride to get in the way?