⏱ 11 min read

• Ciao 🤗, come stai? We’re reading Ephesians 4 today, and it’s going to be a blessing🔥🤍
• There is always quite a lot to unpack from each chapter and we can’t exhaust it all in one devotional.
• As such, we are really looking forward to your lessons, insights, comments, etc., so that we and many others can benefit from them also 🔥🤗🤍

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ~ Ephesians 4:1-3

Chapter 4 continues from Paul’s explanation of the mystery of grace, the purpose of this mystery, the love of Christ, and the capable Father we have (In Ephesians 3). Now, following a conversation last week with one of our ladies, it is very important to take a moment to share this with you:

• Please note that the Bible was not originally written in chapters and verses. It was written as books, letters, scrolls, etc.
• It was the translators who introduced chapters and verses – I believe to allow orderly translation and easy referencing.
• As such, it is important to read passages in the Bible in whole thoughts (the complete message being communicated by the writer) and not just in isolated verses and chapters.

I will encourage that each time you want to fully understand a passage or a verse, please be sure to read the verses or even chapters above and below it, and get the complete thought being communicated. 
Especially when you see phrases like "therefore," "then," "so," "for this reason," etc., are used.

So Paul is saying that, after knowing the mystery of grace, being strengthened in the Spirit, knowing the surpassing love of God and the capable Father we have, there is a response expected of us – to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

This refers to a life that exhibits Godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for our salvation. There are traits that show we have been called and are walking worthy of the call:

• #1. Be completely humble: This is what brings most of us down, and this is what happened to Lucifer.
• The Bible says Lucifer’s heart was lifted up in pride and arrogance because of his beauty (Ezekiel 28:17).
• Dear friend, God resists the proud and gives more grace to the humble! (James 4:6).

"Your heart was proud and lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I lay you before kings, that they might gaze at you." ~ Ezekiel 28:17

The abundant grace we have received should not lead us into self-righteousness and pride. The beginning of a thing is not as important as the end thereof. Let us not allow any grace, beauty, gifting, or ability to deceive us. These are just given to us by God to be used to serve in complete humility.

#2. “Be completely humble AND GENTLE.” One thing Jesus said to learn from Him was this: “learn from me, for I am humble and gentle at heart” (Matthew 11:29). Be like Jesus. The standard of a worthwhile believer is Jesus.

• This gentleness is not an outward thing at all; it is in the heart. It also means maintaining self-control.
• How do you treat people? When they fall? When they are ‘lower’ than you? When they offend you? 
• Galatians 6:1 says that when a believer falls into sin/error, we who are spiritual should gently and humbly restore the person.

#3. “… patiently bearing with one another.” Without patience and tolerance, we cannot keep the unity of the Spirit. Without people skills, forget about Christianity and much more leadership. You and I need to have large hearts!

• The truth is people are bad, malicious, ‘someway,’ ungrateful, offensive, deceptive, provoking, etc.
• But that is how we all were and God still saved us (or this doesn’t apply to you?)
• In the same light, some of the people who are ‘someway,’ will become great people and great assets if we are patient.

#4. “… bearing with one another in [unselfish] LOVE.” This word is so crucial in every aspect of our faith. God is love and we must live out His nature if we are His children. Here, we are talking about the Agape love – unselfish, sacrificial love.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

#5. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”: This simply means that to keep the unity of the Spirit does not come naturally… it takes effort and real hard work! It takes deliberate actions which require thought, time, resources, and energy.

• You have to go and visit your brethren; call and check-up on them; take them out for lunch; send them a gift on their birthday; etc.
• Whichever way, it takes effort for people to be able to live united for a very long time.
• And one of the key areas is building bridges of peace [“…through the bond of peace.”]

Jesus prophesied that offences must come (Matthew 18:7). Which means we cannot escape being offended by each other, even in the body of Christ. You will offend others and others will offend you! As such, one of the main things will be to make efforts to resolve offences by building bridges of peace.

• Most of us have a very low tolerance level and if we’re not careful, we will sack everyone around us. Strive to maintain the peace.
• Look at Jesus’s team: Peter (rowdy fisherman with his rebukes), Thomas the pessimist, James and John the hot-heads, Judas the thief... and He knew all of this; but He kept them together.
• Eventually, they were all transformed (except the son of perdition). And Jesus was very happy to report to God that He did not lose not even one of them (John 17:12).

"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled." ~ John 17:12

May we have this same heart of Jesus and put in efforts to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. These five things above are what Paul says show that we are walking worthy of our calling.

“And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]” ~ Ephesians 4:11‭-‬12 AMP.

• Paul explains that Jesus gave us special gifts, and the gifts He gave us were men (human beings). These people are gifts to us from God Himself.
• It is such a blessing when God sends such gifts our way. God has sent me gifts of people who have changed my life completely.
• I pray you notice the gifts of men and women God brings your way, receive them and value them as such.

And why did God give us these gifts? To equip God’s people (you and I) for the work of ministry! God does not seem to be building need-driven believers and churches, but purpose-driven believers and churches. 

Our shepherds and leaders are to equip us for the work of ministry. God expects you and I to be equipped to serve and work in the ministry. Any leader who tries to do God’s work solo will be ineffective and likely die early (or the ministry will die early). Dear leader, raise up workers!

• We are all supposed to be given the required training and tools to work for the Lord! “To equip God’s people for the work of ministry or works of service.”
• Now, what does work entail? Energy, mind, time, and resources.
• As such, if you’re in a ministry/church and these four things are not being consumed by the ministry/church, you’re not working there.

What is the end goal of all this? “… so that the body of Christ will be built up.” If you want to grow in God, get equipped and work! You will be made into something. “… until we all mature into fullness of the measure of Christ…” (v13). The aim of all this is for us to mature and grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ.

“But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.
 From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.” ~ Ephesians 4:15-16.

• This is how the body of Christ grows: when every part, every individual joins and is working properly!
• Beloved, Jesus Christ has saved us by grace, from the burdens and cares of this world, into His rest.
• But it doesn’t end there. We have been asked to take on His yoke, His burden – which is building His church! (Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 16:18).

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30.

• Don’t be part of those who just watch on and at best clap for others. Let’s get to work!
• You have to dirty your hands for the ministry!
• Jesus is a contractor on a major building project. He is building His church and is calling for labourers – will you join in?

I don’t know about you, but I want to join in what Jesus is doing. I want to join and build His church!

Hey, you're blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved! Do share your lessons from Ephesians 4. Remember to tag us and your friends on 📲:
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