Walk Like You Mean It

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called." - Ephesians 4:1 (NKJV)

When looking at Ephesians from a bird's-eye view, you can see something interesting. The first three chapters focus on a believer's WEALTH in Christ. The last three chapters focus on the believer's WALK in Christ. Ephesians 1-3 is about our RICHES in Christ. Ephesians 4-6 is about our RESPONSIBILITIES in Christ. The first half is about our BELIEFS. The second half is about our BEHAVIOR. What I believe about Christ influences how I live for Christ.

Paul is writing this from a prison cell. And yet this is one of the most hopeful letters in the entire New Testament. You want to know how to be joyful in difficult circumstances? Read Ephesians. Read Philippians. Both written from prison. Both letters are encouraging and hopeful.

He says, "Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called." Ephesians 1-3 told you your position in Christ. You are a victor, not a victim. You are seated in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers. Now walk like it. Live like it.

"Sanctification" is a biblical word that simply describes the believer who has given their life to Jesus and is now beginning to live up to what Jesus has already called them to be. Someone has accurately defined sanctification as "becoming in practice what God has called you to be in truth."

He has called us saints, so we should live like saints. He has called us children of God, so we are going to live like His children. He has said we, as believers together, are one body in Christ. What would it mean for us to live like that?

One area that we need to live up to who God calls us to be is His church. Collectively, we are called His body. I read recently that 33% of American adults are what researchers call "de-churched". They once were in church. They said "yes" to Jesus at some point. But they are now on the sidelines. Within that group, about one out of every six claim to be born-again Christians. They currently say they have a personal relationship with Jesus but are not part of a local church. That represents around 18 million Americans who have said "yes" to Jesus but "no" to the church. How can we justify that?

Jesus clearly taught that the church was His idea in Matthew 16:18 when He said, "I will build My church." He envisioned people entering into the family of God, one at a time. We are not left alone, but we are now part of something that unites us. We are a body. We are a family. Our salvation is personal, but there is a community dimension to this faith we cannot ignore. One area of Christians' "walking worthy of the calling" is to say "yes" to the church just like we said "yes" to Jesus.

Reflection Question: What would it look like for your walk to actually match what God has already called you to be?

Dear Heavenly Father, You called me a saint and a child of God before I ever lived up to either one. Thank You for that. Help me today to walk worthy of the calling, not in my own strength, but by Your Spirit. I want my walk to catch up to what You have already said I am. I have said "yes" to You, now I choose to say "yes" to Your church, too. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out: "What Makes a Great Church" (Ephesians 4:1-3): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/hkkjzjx/13-what-makes-a-great-church-eph-4-1-3