Have you ever wondered what God wants for your life?
In Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul gives us a clear answer.
He tells us how to live in a way that honors God. This means walking in unity and using our gifts.
Walk Worthy of Your Calling
The first step is to live a life that matches your faith.
Paul asks us to walk in a way that is worthy of the calling we received.
This does not mean being perfect, but it does mean being humble and gentle with others.
We must be patient with the people around us.
We should show love even when it is hard.
When we do this, we reflect the heart of Jesus to the world.
“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.”
Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV
Keep the Unity of the Spirit
Unity is very important to God.
Division was never part of God’s plan.
There is only one body (the Church) and one Spirit (God). We all share the same hope and faith. Because of this, we must work hard to stay united.
Peace acts like a bond that holds the church together.
We should not let small arguments pull us apart.
Instead, we focus on the fact that we serve the same Lord. Unity makes the church strong and healthy.
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.”
Ephesians 4:3-4 NIV
However, peace doesn’t mean uniformity. We all have our opinions. The beauty of peace in the church is unity despite all our differences.
For example, Matthew was a tax collector who worked for the Roman rulers. Simon was a Zealot who hated their rules. They had different jobs, different politics, and different social statuses. Yet, they chose to live and work together in total unity. Their shared allegiance to Jesus was much bigger than all of their differences.
Use Your Gifts to Build the Church
God gave each of us special spiritual gifts.
He gave some people the talent to lead or teach. Others have the gift of helping or encouraging.
Yet, there’s one thing in common: the gifts are used to serve others and not our egos.
The purpose of these gifts is to enable people for works of service. When everyone uses their gifts, the whole church grows. We become more like Jesus (that’s what the word “Christian” means). We move away from being spiritual infants and grow up.
“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.”
This article is based on the sermon Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians – A Focus on Ephesians 4. Watch the full sermon below.
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