#DailyDevotion You Have Been Called To Walk In A New Life
Eph. 4:1-2 So I, a prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live as people whom God has called should live. 2Be humble and gentle in every way, be patient, and lovingly bear with one another.
So, it’s not one and done. What I mean is it isn’t we say we believe in Jesus, that he has forgiven us our sins, we’re baptized and then we go on and live as if nothing happened. If you were sincere, you weren’t feigning when repented of your sins, confessed your faith in Christ and were baptized then there was a change in you, in your heart. A heart that God through the Gospel of Jesus has called to be his own and has resurrected from death will want to live a different life.
So Paul urges the Ephesians, whom God has called through the Gospel of Christ, the reconciliation Christ won for us through the cross to God the Father, to live as people whom God has called to live. We are not called to live the selfish, self-centered lives we use to live. We have ceased to be the center of our worlds. We haven’t been called to satisfy the desires of our flesh but the Spirit whom God has placed in our hearts.
So what does that look like? We have been called to humble and gentle in every way. Christ Jesus humbled himself to death on a cross to save us from eternal perdition. He saw us, you, and humbled himself to serve you through his death to reconcile you to God. In similar fashion, humble yourselves and be gentle with those around you. Do not think more of yourself than you should. Think of others as deserving more honor than yourself. Think about how you can serve others and do it because this pleases God your Father. Be gentle with your fellow Christians. You don’t always know what they are going through. If they can get a break throughout the day in your presence, imagine how much that means to them. Hopefully, they will do the same for you.
Be patient with one another. Think of how patient God your Father is with you. He does not jump down your throat every time you do something wrong. You’re not struck by lightning and the earth doesn’t swallow you up when you mess up. He patiently waits for you to realize your sin and confess it so He may forgive you. Think of how often you sin against God by sinning against the person in front of you, not treating them with the love you want to be treated with. So be patient with one another as God is with you.
Paul says to lovingly bear with one another. In love put up with one another. Earlier in chapter 1 verse 4 Paul says, “In love he predestined us…” That “in love” follow a bunch of “in Christ,” “in Him,” etc. I believe Paul is hearkening back to that first chapter here. Christ Jesus is love. That “in love” is equal to “in Christ.” This putting up with or bearing with one another is not in and of our own resources. It is done in Christ. Remember how Jesus humbled himself, putting off his cloak, getting on his knees and washing his disciples’ feet? He told them to love one another as he has loved us. Paul is saying the same thing here with “in love” and “one another.” Yes, your fellow Christian can be a pain sometimes and be aggravating. He may sin against you and not confess it or make amends. Put up with him in love, in Jesus, for Christ’s sake as Christ Jesus puts up with you with the love he showed you on the cross. This is the life God has called us to, His life.
Heavenly Father, even as you have called us into newness of life through Christ Jesus, so give us your Holy Spirit so we may live out your life in our own lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.