Live From Your Calling

... I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Ephesians 4:1 NIV)

Before Paul urged the Ephesians to live a life worthy of their calling he spent three chapters explaining "the calling" that God has placed on our lives:

Paul pointed out that through Christ:

• we are saints (1:1);
• we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (1:3);
• we are chosen in Christ (1:4);
• we were predestined to be adopted as God's son (1:5);
• we have been redeemed and forgiven (1:7);
• we are recipients of his lavish grace (1:8);
• we have been made alive (2:5);
• we have been raised up and seated with Christ (2:6);
• we are God's workmanship (2:10);
• we have direct access to God (2:18);
• we are fellow citizens of God's family (2:19);
• and we may approach God with boldness (3:12).

Paul knew it would be in response to knowing and believing all that Christ had done for them that the Ephesians would be able to live a life worthy of their calling.

The same is true for us today. It is only as we live by faith, believing what God says about us is true, that we are enabled to live effective Christian lives. —Susan Barnes