A Worthy Walk
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Ephesians 4:1
We will determine what a worthy walk is to the Lord from the scriptures in Ephesians 4:1-16. In these verses Jesus is talking about the church reaching spiritual maturity in order to maintain unity. The church is God’s family throughout the world, and consists of all believers who live according to the Word of God.
The purpose of the church is to bring people into the Kingdom, and we do this by our Christian lifestyle. If people see a Christian life conforming to the world, then there is nothing to invite them into God’s family. Every member in the church is to be holy, therefore the church should not adopt the sinful nature of the world. Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16) To be Holy is to be different and the church is different because we walk in Godly wisdom and not worldly wisdom. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. (1 Corinthians 2:6)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2) The attitude in this verse is essential to maintain unity. Every member of the church is responsible for maintaining unity and making sure the church is correctly following the Word. It has been my experience that the more the church ministers to the outside world, the easier it becomes to maintain unity. The purpose of the Church is to gain Godly wisdom and encouragement, which brings us closer to the Lord and motivates us to minister to the world throughout the week.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13) It is through works of service in the church that we minister outside the church. After becoming mature in Christ, the truth of the Word is revealed, and the church becomes unified
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14) When we minister to the world we become mature because we develop the mind and heart of our Lord, and ministering to the world drives us into the Word, prayer, and fellowship. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. (1 John 2:3) If we don’t mature in Christ we will be more susceptible to follow false teaching.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4: 15-16) We are now walking with Godly wisdom and love, which enables us to know the truth and maintain unity in the church. Our walk is now worthy to the Lord.
Today strive to minister to the world and to grow in Godly wisdom with a heart of love. Encourage others in the church and seek to maintain unity in Christ. The church is known by its love, peace, and joy expressed by every member.
Prayer: Lord, help me to promote unity in the church and to be light for the truth, both inside the church and outside the church. I pray for your wisdom and for a heart filled with your love. Let me reflect your love, peace, joy, and security to others. In Jesus name, Amen