Live up to the blessings given to you

Ephesians 4:1-3, 13 (NIV)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace……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.

Like the Romans letter, Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church starts with an explanation of Christian doctrine (first 3 chapters), then here in Chapter 4 he switches to describing Christian practice (the application of doctrine) and writes about practical Christianity in the last three chapters of Ephesians.  Specifically, Paul has been discussing the indescribable blessings from God to His people (e.g. read again Eph 1:3-14, 2:8-10; and 3:14-20) now he pleads with readers to live up to these blessings. 

Yes, Paul pleads with his readers---“I urge you……”  The word “urge” in the Greek is “parakaleo” that means “to call near”.  Paul used this word many times in his letters to reinforce a sense of treating his words as “top priority” of our lives. 

So what is the top priority of your life?  If you were not reading this, would you respond that it is to “live your life worthy of the calling you have received”?  And what is that calling?  Verse 4:13 gives the answer—to reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature (perfect).  The word “mature” is the same word that Jesus used in Matthew 5:48 when He said that “you are to be perfect…..”

If you desire to grow spiritually starting right now, that such a desire must be intentional.  People make New Year’s resolutions or other resolutions throughout the year, yet most fail because it takes intentional resolve and discipline over time (months and years, not days and weeks) to achieve these goals and hopes.  Note in these verses the emphasis on the adjectives and adverbs---

            “….live a life worthy…..”

            “Be completely humble and gentle….”

            “Make every effort…..”

You cannot grow spiritually and reach the ultimate goal of the Christian life without serious, sincere, and substantial resolve and effort on a consistent basis.

However, you can start right now through prayer and through intentional acts of discipline such as studying your Bible and getting active in a ministry that God has called you to do.  Don’t be like so many who Jesus describes as “willing in the Spirit, but weak in the flesh”. (Matthew 26:41).  Be intentional, completely humble and patient, and make every effort to achieve this top priority of your life.