and 17

Worthy of the

Major Mark Herbert highlights the way forward

STUDY PASSAGE: EPHESIANS 4

WALKING. Whose idea was it that we should walk 10,000 steps a day? Am I the only person who walks around the house late at night to ‘get my steps’? I suppose it is better than having a dog to walk, but that’s another story and, like my steps, I don’t have enough words to explain.

One of the great walks of the Bible is found in Ephesians 4:1: ‘As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.’ Earlier translations urge us to ‘walk worthy of the calling’ (New King James Version). In other words, life is about working out – and then living out – what God has destined us to be and to do. In many ways, we should hear God saying: ‘I’m off – anyone coming? It’s time to pack, not park.’

Let’s be clear, Paul was writing to the whole Church, not just to a select few. These words, like the calling we have received, apply to us all.

QUESTIONS O What do you understand to be God’s calling on your life? O When did you become aware of God’s call?

In essence, there are three types of calling. First, we are called to follow Jesus, to leave behind what we were and to claim freedom in Christ. Second, there is a call to a task – a function in the Church. Third – what much of Ephesians 4 describes – a calling in a dark world: the call to ‘be’ (v2). This is the call to be different. These words were written in a world that hated Christians. Like our Ephesian forefathers, we cannot give up this calling to be different in the face of evil. We must always choose calling over comfort.

QUESTION O Are you excited to know that you are called to be different?

Within The Salvation Army, even with our holiness roots, we can be tempted to start with the ‘do’. We love doing. The Army has made its name by doing.

The challenge we face at this hinge moment in the history of our Movement is that often our doing is not much different from what a lot of other people are doing. Our calling is not to be the same but to live differently: ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love’ (v2).

These verses remind us that God starts with the ‘who’, not with the ‘do’. The

Through the week with Salvationist – a devotional thought for each day by Major Melv yn Knott SUNDAY Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

(Ephesians 6:14 and 15)

MONDAY Lord, send thy Spirit from above/ With light and love and power divine;/ And by his all-constraining grace/ Make me and keep me ever thine.

(SASB 666) TUESDAY Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

(Colossians 3:12–14)

calling

painful truth is that if the ‘who’ is not right, the ‘do’ won’t be either. When you know who you are, you will know what to do. In our walk with God, we can sometimes stumble over these words: ‘We will no longer be infants… we will grow to become in every respect, the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ’ (vv14 and 15).

Let these words soak in. We are not different alone, but different together. These verses encourage us to keep walking away from what and who we were without Jesus and walking towards what we must become in him.

QUESTION O Prayerfully read Ephesians 4:17–32. How might you apply these words to your own life?

As Christ followers, we build a bridge into a sceptical world through showing what we believe by how we behave. We can have all the doctrine in the world but if our lives contradict our beliefs, we will remain ‘infants’. A daily call comes to live differently. We should not stop doing the right things even when the wrong things get more attention: ‘Put off your old self… to be made new’ (vv22 and 23).

The practical outworking of this truth is that we are always ‘on call’. We need to be the same person, privately, publicly and personally. Our lives are the sum total of all the decisions we have made. We walk in the direction of our strongest thoughts. The world is watching, waiting and searching for the answer to the endless stream of anger, hatred and hopelessness that is so dominant. We live in a culture that pushes us to the limits and beyond. The pace of life is unbiblical and unsustainable.

We begin to understand the solution when, at the end of Ephesians 4, Paul helps us see how this different calling to a dark world can be lived out. The instructions are clear: ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths… do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God… Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… Be kind and compassionate to one another’ (vv29–32).

It’s a first step. Let’s be kind to one another. The second step might be a giant stride in helping you to live out your calling.

When we understand who we are, we will know what to do. Our doing will show what we believe. Then ours will be a walk worthy of our calling.

QUESTION O What steps are you willing to take so that others will see Christ in and through you?

MAJOR HERBERT IS DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, SOUTH EAST

WEDNESDAY I dare to be different, I dare to believe;/ I dare to be different, God’s Spirit receive./ I dare to be different, my life sacrificed;/ I dare to be different by living like Christ.

(SASB 321) THURSDAY Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

(Philippians 1:27) Prayer Father, we thank you that we are worthy of your calling, not because of what we do but because of what you did. May others see your glory through the lives that we live.

FRIDAY Your Kingdom come around and through and in me;/ Your power and glory, let them shine through me./ Your hallowed name, O may I bear with honour,/ And may your living Kingdom come in me./ The Bread of Life, O may I share with honour,/ And may you feed a hungry world through me. (SASB 850) SATURDAY Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

(Isaiah 40:31)