Eph 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
In case you didn’t know it, you have been called! In 2 Timothy, Paul states that God has saved us and called us with a holy calling. Also, in the Ephesians 4 passage, Paul explains that believers are to be being equipped (an ongoing process) for the work of the ministry under the fivefold leadership gifts that Jesus gave to the church. Yes, you have been called in Christ to be raised up and equipped for the work of the ministry!
Paul implores us, strongly urging that we would walk worthy of that calling! What does that mean exactly? I’m glad you asked! Today, I want to give you the five things Paul offered to help you find the rhythm of grace for walking worthy of your calling!
1) Humility
Being humble is one of the most Christlike attributes of the children of God. My favorite definition of humility is that He’s God, and I’m not! That’s pretty simple, right?
True humility reflects a life surrendered to His lordship, recognizing Him as Lord or Boss. This trust in Him should be evident in how we relate to others, as there is no room for self-importance in the Kingdom. By choice, Jesus demonstrated humility by washing His disciples’ feet, even those of Judas. It’s hard to be judgmental or self-important when you’re serving others in such a profound way. Humility is a choice in faith, and yeah, there’s grace for that!
2) Gentleness
Gentleness is not weakness but a strength born from humility, often referred to in the Bible as meekness. Kingdom meekness is having the power to change someone’s behavior or spiritual state forcefully but choosing to do it through grace and kindness instead. Jesus exemplified this when He chose to go to the cross rather than call upon twelve legions of angels for deliverance. This illustrates meekness—choosing grace over brute force.
3)Patience
Patience for others directly results from humility, gentleness, and love. The Greek word for patience emphasizes self-restraint that does not hastily retaliate or punish others when faced with offenses or challenges. It is associated with God’s character and willingness to show mercy. Godly patience is long-suffering for the good of another.
1 Tim 1:15-16 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. But for this very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
4) Love
Agape, or divine love, is the highest form of love and embodies the essence of God. The Bible tells us that God is love; He doesn’t just possess it—He is love itself. When we have God in our lives, agape love resides within us. This type of love is unconditional and does not depend on emotions; it is a conscious choice made through faith. We are able to love this way because He first loved us. Remember, it should be your go-to; love never fails!
5)Unity
The Greek word used here literally means “one” or “oneness.” It refers to the unity and oneness that believers are to share at a profound relational level. This harmony is something we are called to embrace with one another. It stems from our new nature in Christ. Paul urges us to do everything we can to achieve unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace. The theme of unity runs deep throughout the passage in Ephesians 4, emphasizing that we are meant to be ONE! I like to say it this way: common-unity, COMMUNITY; thats Kingdom!
Paul outlines these five characteristics in the Ephesians 4 passage that describe what it means to walk worthy of your calling. Although embodying these godly attributes may seem challenging at times, it’s important to remember that every instruction in the Word comes with the grace and power to carry it out.
I encourage you to take time today to deeply consider these five qualities the Lord has placed within you and begin to relationally allow the Spirit of God to help you live them out through faith! The true power of your calling can only be fulfilled by the one that rules them all: LOVE!
We are talking Getting Equipped this Sunday in Ephesians 4 at CCF! You’re invited to get a more detailed and in-depth experience of The Weekly Word by visiting CCF in person @ 10:30 on Sunday mornings or by watching our recorded weekly live stream on our CCF Facebook Page
Let’s build Kingdom Community!
I welcome and encourage you to post your comments in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Blessings!
Pastor Jason
