"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3).
When we really understand how much God has done for us, we will want to serve and obey Him out of gratitude. A worthy walk, before God and those in the world who are watching, will be marked by lowliness and gentleness, not a pushy desire to defend our own rights and advance our own agenda. Our humble, forgiving, loving attitude toward one other will result in the gift of the unity of the Spirit.
Looks Like ...
The story is told about an elderly man who retired after many years in the British Army. One day a man who knew about his long and distinguished military career decided to play a prank on him. As the old soldier walked down the street holding on to his grocery bags, the jokester sneaked up behind him and shouted, "Attention!" Without hesitation, the military man dropped his arms to his side, chin up, chest out, shoulders back, eyes front, stomach in - and his bags went tumbling to the sidewalk. Without a conscious thought, that veteran was doing what comes naturally for a soldier.
Do you tend to lose your temper easily, or speak to others frequently in a sarcastic or impatient tone of voice? According to our verse, we must learn to react under fire in a manner that is worthy of our calling as believers, no matter what is going on around us. Our behavior is to line up with the example of Jesus' life. In our interactions with others, we are to to be kind and patient, constantly looking out for ways we can serve. Like a soldier who has been rigorously trained, we will need to practice this, learning to patiently bear with one another in peace and with humility - until it is our automatic response in a stressful situation.
Ask Yourself ...
Do you respond to others in a manner worthy of the vocation to which you have been called? This is a question we must ask ourselves regularly.