"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
I've been reading Ephesians 4, verses 1-6 over and over again the last week. God wants us to live a life worthy of the calling He's given us. It's a cry! Yes, it's instruction. Yes, it's a command. But I hear Paul saying "...I urge you..." It's a cry, a plea that is resonating in my heart.
In times like these, more than ever before, we need to live lives that are worthy, lives that are holy. Over the last week, different parts of the passage at different times have stood out. Yesterday it was, "As a prisoner for the Lord..." and the beginning of verse two which says, "Be completely humble and gentle..." I asked myself, "Why did Paul preface his instruction to live holy with his current state of imprisonment?" What was the importance of him introducing the instruction to live holy in that way? Paul was using himself as an example for them to follow.
Paul was a prisoner for the cause of Christ. Paul had been beaten, stoned, imprisoned, rejected and misunderstood for the cause of Christ. He could say with authority, "Live worthy of the calling you have received."
Let Paul's plea ring in our ears this year. Every day let us remember to walk worthy of the calling of Christ Jesus.
"How to Live Worthy" - Next Post (Stay tuned)
Beverly,
ReplyDeleteA good way to start the year! With the greatness of the character of Yahshua Messiah before us as set out in the language of Eph.4. For truly this is the time to be ready for whatever comes our way as YHWH allows.
Thanks for this post and:
Shalom In Yahshua
Hi Yuri,
DeleteIt was so good to hear from you. Thank you for visiting and commenting. When you get a moment, please check out my other blog: celebratingmen.blogspot.com.
I've relocated and am getting settled in, so it's taking me awhile to get back to blogging.
Shalom!
Beverly