Ephesians 4:1-2
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,”
I love that each of our lives in God are described as a walk. It’s not a race in which there are only a few winners. It’s not anything competitive. It’s not an Everest climb in which only a few make it and those that do are greatly invested. It’s a walk. This is meant for everyone. While much of the christian experience is tied to community, the walk must be individual. Others can help and influence, but we must make our own steps.
Within our walk, God tailors our day for us. If He is our lord and savior and we have commited our lives to Him, then we can expect the circumstances to be God allowed. 1 Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” He will allow tough times. Jesus says in Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Believer’s aren’t exempt from difficulties.
Believer’s aren’t exempt from difficulties.
Today’s passage tells us to walk in a manner worthy… This doesn’t mean we have to write large checks towards charity or live lives of greatness. It means that we are to face the trials of the day in dependance on God, trusting that He’ll bring us through. This does have it’s challenges. As Peter says in the passage above, we are surprised. This means there is drama. It’s easy to complain, whine and gossip in the heat of the moment. We do what we can to repair the situation. The blood pressure is high. These responses are all natural. God wants us to resist the drama and do it differently.
Verse two says to walk with humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love. This isn’t natural. It’s the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22. As we are plugged into God by reading the bible, praying and going to church, God puts patience and more in us. Just like an apple tree naturally bears apples when watered and pruned, so the christian should demonstrate patience, kindness, etc. While we still feel the drama of everyday life, we bring these circumstance to Him in prayer. We ask our friends to pray for us. We get good advice. Through it all we begin to respond better and trust more. The emergency reactions aren’t quite as high and the downs aren’t as low. Not that the circumstances are less, but we learn that God works all these things for the good (Romans 8:28). He has delivered us dozens of times before, He’ll do it again.
Lord, thank You that You are with us on a daily basis. Even when life seems boring, You’re there. Thank You for bringing us through the difficult times. Help us to walk in a manner worthy.