Lord Jesus, please help me live a life worthy of the calling I have received.

Today’s Scripture: Ephesians 4:1, NIV- “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

For years I wondered what my “calling” was. Lord, what is my purpose? I have come to understand it is not about my purpose at all, it is about His. I find my purpose in God’s purpose. But Paul says we are all different and we can all walk worthy of our individual callings.

As we humble ourselves before the Lord and trust His timing, we learn patience. There is one body, Spirit, Lord, faith, and baptism we have been called to. Regardless of what humankind has attempted to create there is one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all as Paul writes in Ephesians 4:4-6.

Within this one collective Ephesians 4:7 gets very personal. Each one of us have been given a measure of Christ’s gift. Each one of us are a unique part and carry a responsibility as part of Christ’s body. In Ephesians 4:11-12 we are told that Christ Himself was raised up to equip and perfect each one of us to build up the body of Christ.

Paul tells us we are to mature and grow up in our faith to be more like Christ. While we are forever maturing and growing, we have already grown to where we are today. We do not need to wait until we are fully grown to be fully alive. We are unique and our part deserves our attention and focus today. The body of Christ has us today right here where we are.

Somebody needs what we have today. I am praying we do not get too busy with unworthy activities that prevent us from living a life worthy of Jesus’ call on our lives. We must desire over all things to measure up to the fullness of Christ. We must accept the maturity we do have. We are no longer infants in our faith or experiences.

We can reach up and out in the love of Christ who is our master, Lord, and head of this body. We are a vital part of what keeps the body of Christ together. Is that too exaggerated? Not according to Ephesians 4:16. In the very next verse we are told we must first stop living in the futility of our minds.

We will never have everything figured out, we must simply be and do our part. We must stop over-thinking and humbly love and do what the Spirit guides our part to do. Trusting our minds and understanding separates us for the life God has created for us as Paul warns in Ephesians 4:18.

We have learned enough and matured enough to put off our old selves. The spirit of our minds renews us. The Holy Spirit helps us put on our new selves, the self that is needed by this body. Ephesians 4:25 tells us we must be honest about our old selves and our new selves as we speak with our neighbors. As we tell how Jesus has formed our new selves, we are building His body.

How do we build the body of Christ? By simply being the new self, we have found in Christ and His Spirit. Ephesians 4:28 reminds us that we each have something to share with someone in need. Today, we can be on the lookout for someone in need of what we have. We are the only person in the world that has what we have and the life of someone else depends on us today. Now that is a distinct perspective, isn’t it? Overstated? Not according to God’s Word.

Let us be committed to speaking with words that build people up today. We can encourage others by recognizing their gifts. Just as with us, outsiders can often recognize gifts sooner than the bearer of those gifts. Let us magnify and lift the Holy Spirit of God we see in others today. We can compliment someone’s gift today that will encourage them to keep growing and maturing in the direction God is calling them. Will we live a life worthy of our calling today?

Today’s Prayer:  Almighty God, thank You for calling us into Your body. You are the One true God. The God of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob. Just as they were vital to Your body, so are we. Help us to live the fullness of our maturity in our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us LORD to humbly love all others and be a part of lifting them and encouraging them to live their part of Your body. Help us LORD to live a life worthy of our calling today so we help others live the life You have called them to. Amen.