⏱ 7 min read

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

Ephesians 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 or books (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

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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 develop 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 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 (Read 1 Cor 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 a lot of 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; pray for them, etc.
• Whichever way, it takes real 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 doubter, 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

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Prayer: Pray to have this same heart of Jesus; a life that puts in efforts to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Pray that you will walk worthy of your calling by the five (5) points above.

Hey, you're blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved!
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