Calling

Throughout this week, we have read about God’s plan to unite Jews and Gentiles as followers of Jesus. Today, Paul reminds the Ephesians about a challenge that is inherent with this plan.

Ephesians 4

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Calling. I am challenged by the phrase “I ... beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling”. Paul’s not talking about earning the grace God has given us as if it is somehow “same as cash” and we are on a payment plan. He’s talking about sharing the grace God has given us especially with fellow Jesus followers. It won’t be easy ... humility and patience require effort, sometimes every effort we have. The reason this is so important is that the possibility of God’s grace seems less likely to those who have never experienced when the ones that claim to have experienced it can’t even express it to each other.