“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…” Ephesians 4:1

A Militant March

God in heaven has given us an indescribable gift in His beloved Son who has paid the penalty for all our wrongdoing, granted us abounding grace, and made us accepted and holy before Him in love. And now, how shall we live? This passage exhorts us to walk worthy of the calling. What does a life lived in a worthy manner look like?

For openers I would suggest that it looks nothing like our former conduct. Something revolutionary has exploded in our deepest core and effected eternal change. If this metamorphosis is not apparent in our attitudes, responses, outlook, perspective, thinking, and pursuits, then I would question if it had actually occurred. You can’t fake it. It runs deep and true. This new creation is unstoppable, surprising, profound, and pervasive. It is a total transformation. Are you different now than when you first believed?

There was a time in my life when I did not walk worthy. Yet I considered myself a Christian. There was little evidence of it as I pursued the world and its pleasures. Those things that I then thought delightful, I now look back on in embarrassment. I am thankful He brought that house of lies crashing down around my head until I cried out to Him. He called me out of darkness into His glorious light. I am different now and I want to walk differently.

The world is filled with noise and contention, futility, darkness, alienation, ignorance, blindness, and callousness. We have not so learned Jesus. No longer give place to an anger that would cause sin and hurt. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, gossip, cutting remarks, and just plain meanness. Walk worthy of your calling.

We are to be marked by humility and gentleness. We are to exhibit patience and kind endurance. We should treat fellow believers tenderly and graciously. We must be willing to go out of our way to be peacemakers and bridge builders. We will speak the truth in love. We will do our share in ministry. We will give to him who is in need. We will speak edification and impart grace to the hearers. We will forgive, even as Christ has forgiven us.

We are a relentless army of love following hard on the heels of the Captain of our salvation. May we fight this battle in humble obedience and with hearts overflowing with gratitude. Our victory is assured. Walk worthy!

“Father, You have done the work we could never do. You are establishing a kingdom that will stand eternally. We are thankful to be part of Your glorious plan. Teach us to walk worthy of our glorious calling. To the glory of Your name, Amen.”