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July 2, 2024
- By Ed Powell
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"Therefore, walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." Ephesians 4:1
The word "therefore" always refers to what has preceded it. It acts as a hinge, opening up a truth or principle to which we are to respond, because of what has been given earlier. Paul has given in the preceding chapters the vast benefits of God's grace, mercy, and love. Now he says, because of all these things, we should "walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye have been called." We are not to be mere recipients of God's goodness and grace. We have a responsibility if we are to follow Christ. While Christianity is doctrinal, it's more than that. While it is intellectual, it's more than that. While it is spiritual, it's more than that. It comes down to our everyday experiences of life and relates to: who we are, what we think, what we do, how we live, and the application of His Word to our lives, our faith, and what we believe.
In the last three chapters of Ephesians, Paul emphasizes that to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing" does not come automatically or easy. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Discipleship demands the prevailing of our faith against the uncertainty of our circumstances, the persevering of our hope against the frustration of our failures, the persuasion of our love against the temptations of our passions. If we are to be sanctified, that is, set apart to God, it has to be the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals the Word to us. He quickens our hearts and creates a hunger within us to know doctrinal truth. As we diligently study the Word, the doctrines of the Word "come alive." We then exercise faith and apply the Word to our lives, so that His truth will be evident in our walk.
There will be a deepening of our relationship with the Lord and a steady growth in grace that will solidify our faith. It is putting into practice the presence of God and yielding in obedience to His lordship. It is His life being lived in and through us. Paul said, "It is not I, but Christ." He said, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure."
God is urging us to know the truth in a practical way by applying it to our everyday lives. THEN, we will begin to live in the reality of our life in Christ and His life in us. Set your heart to know the truth in reverential fear and trembling. Launch out by faith into uncharted waters. Dare to believe by taking God at His word. You will begin to see God working in your life in grace and power. He will establish you and make your life effective and fruitful for His glory. To "walk" expresses progress, action, moving forward, hastening our efforts, and striving for mastery. We should respond to the magnitude of His grace and infinite love by diligently searching the Word to know the truth, by submission to the Holy Spirit, and by making His Word applicable to our walk and a reality in our life!
He has "called us to walk worthy of the calling, wherewith you have been called." Oh, that we will respond in unreserved obedience to the high calling of God upon our life!
© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.
This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-07-02&print=1
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