(47) Remember Your Calling in Christ - Pt. 2

Paul reminds the Colossian believers that they are the “elect of God, holy and dearly loved.” He gives a similar reminder to the believers in Ephesus.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV )

Here, Paul admonishes us to walk worthy of our calling. But notice, the second word in this verse, “therefore.” Paul is basing this admonition on the calling He has described in chapters one through three.

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul has described all the wonderful blessings we have received in Christ as a gift of God’s amazing grace. We didn’t do anything to receive our salvation or all God’s blessing that comes with it. If there is any good in us, it is a gift of God’s grace.

Paul goes on from there to marvel over the mystery of the Church, the joining of Jew and gentile in one Body. God has joined not just Jew and gentile, but also male and female, slave and free, people from vastly different cultures and backgrounds together in the Body of Christ. This is an amazing mystery that is so clearly experienced whenever you travel to another part of the world and meet believers. You immediately feel a bond that is inexplicable except by the beauty of Christ in us and we, together in Christ.

Now, after exploring this wealth of blessing and beauty that has been graciously given to us, then, Paul says, walk worthy of this! How do you walk worthy of such incredible blessing in Christ and in the Body of Christ?

We will answer than question shortly, but first, we must again remind ourselves of our calling. This is such a critical step in gaining victory over discouragement with others. We must fucus on our high calling in Christ. This is a calling we have received by grace and grace alone. It is a calling that puts us in unity with every other believer in the Body of Christ. A unity we must guard, preserve and protect.

The first step in gaining victory over discouragement with other believers involves choosing to look at them through God’s eyes. We must stop, take a step back and choose to look at our fellow believers as our brothers and sisters who we are called to encourage, minister with, fellowship with and love. We must look at the big picture: the testimony of Christ before the lost world and the growth of the Body of Christ is at stake.

We cannot stop loving them. God doesn’t stop loving us does He? We cannot stop ministering to them. God never stops ministering to us does He? We cannot stop serving alongside them. God continues to use us when we continually fail doesn’t He? We cannot give up on them. God doesn’t give up on us does He? God has high hopes for us – in fact, He guarantees our progress (Phil. 1:6). Can we dare loose hope for others without dishonoring God?

We must focus on these truths when we are tempted toward discouragement with a brother or sister. We must fear dishonoring the high calling we have in Christ. And if we give in to discouragement, if we loose hope for them, if we act negatively toward them, if we stop loving, serving, and encouraging them, we are in fact dishonoring our mutual calling.

Next: (48)  Reflect the Character of Christ