“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift…
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:1-7,11-16
Paul is determined to do all he can to ensure that the churches he founded are unified and strong. While walking and building are required, he encourages them that the Spirit of God provides needed humility and vision, faith to endure, His gifts of ministry, and the will to grow. Every command is issued with power and holy enabling so God’s will is accomplished. (Philippians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Seeking unity and fullness in the Body of Christ, the Lord tasks each member with responsibility to do his part. Walking worthy of our calling is not easy, nor meant to be done, alone. Building the Body harnesses individual agency as it assumes many parts and contributions to the whole. Gifts are bestowed to be honed and exercised, maturity and love the goal.
A humble and eager acceptance of God’s high calling is foremost. The Lord saves and sanctifies individuals, and then exquisitely facilitates their working together to build up the church. One Lord, one faith, one hope are both divine gift and goal. Fellowship and working in ministry are the natural compulsion of surrendered saints, and their glorious goal.
How honestly, faithfully, and closely are we walking worthy of our calling in Christ? How easily, and in what areas, are we swept up in fad doctrines and schemes? How can practice of our spiritual gifts and committed fellowship contribute to personal and corporate maturity, and what will we do about it?
“Christ, of all my hopes the ground,
Christ, the spring of all my joy,
still in you may I be found,
still for you my pow’rs employ.
Let your love my heart inflame;
keep your fear before my sight;
be your praise my highest aim;
be your smile my chief delight.
Fountain of o’erflowing grace,
freely from your fullness give;
’til I close my earthly race,
may I prove it ‘Christ to live.'” ~ Ralph Wardlaw (1817)
Lord, may I walk and build according to Your will, to Your glory.
As the rain and snow 