Walking Worthy

Ephesians 4:1-10

Serving on jury duty, I was amazed to listen to the testimony about the police officers who arrested the suspect for drug possession. The male officer had been having an affair with the female undercover officer, although married to another woman. The defense offered their adultery as evidence that their testimony could not be depended upon.

Though it did not prove they were lying, it did emphasize the lack of character of the officers. Had the defense been able to offer any additional reason for distrusting the officers, it is probable that the defendant would have gone free. Their immoral conduct seriously hampered their credibility as police officers. As police officers, they had a responsibility to obey the laws and standards they enforce. They had been trained in what the law said in those areas, and ignoring it implied a casual disregard for the law, and the truth. The implication was that they really didn’t deserve to be officers.

There are things that should not be found in a Christian’s life. Their presence indicates a low level of respect for Christ. Either the person doesn’t care enough to find out what pleases God, or he is deliberately doing wrong. John 14: 23-24 tells us “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.”

As a person who loves the Lord, and wants to please him, there ought to be certain characteristic actions and attitudes in our life. If they are not there, people have no evidence of our Christianity.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Humility, patience, forgiveness and love ought to be natural for believers who are walking in a manner pleasing to God. They are part of the results of the Holy Spirit’s action in our life, according to Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Since there is only one Holy Spirit, one church, one belief, one God, and one baptism, there should be no basis for conflict of purpose or belief among us. Unity of attitude among all Christians should be the norm, and conflict is evidence of not following Christ.

This does not mean we are all identical to each other. God has allotted different gifts to every Christian. The gifts are given based on the needs of the local people, and their walk with Christ, for the benefit of all Christians.

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)” (Ephesians 4:7-10)

When Christ died and was resurrected, those who had died before were waiting in Abraham’s bosom because salvation was not yet complete. They needed to receive him and go into heaven as soon as their salvation was complete. Those who were still alive could wait until death to go into heaven. Each group was given what was needed. God still works in the same manner.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” (I Corinthians 12:4-11)

The Holy Spirit makes every Christian different, with different gifts, to accomplish God’s purpose. Efforts to make everyone alike are not from God. Walking worthy of what he has called us to does not erase our identity.