Ephesians: Lesson 6 - Day 2

Read Ephesians 4: 1 - 6 out loud. Watch for the character traits that are going to be necessary if we want to "walk worthy of the call with which we have been called."

Let's examine these words today ... with our eyes focused on our own spirits. It will lead you to prayer ...

To "walk worthy" requires an attitude of humility. Humility is anchored in ones view of self. It is the heart knowledge that "God is God ... and I am not". Humility is a lowliness of mind toward self - not an inflated mind toward self. It is not denying that God has given gifts to you, strengths and abilities. And they are to be used for His glory. It is not low self-esteem. In fact, how can a person called by God consider herself "of no esteem"? Humility brings to light our continual battle with ego. Beth Moore says in her Bible study on Esther, "God designed the human psyche. He knows that nothing leaves us more hollow than being full of ourselves. We have no greater burden than our own egos - and nothing more breakable. When filled with ourselves, we are fragile people." Humility ...

To "walk worthy" requires a spirit of gentleness (KJV translates the word meekness). Don't confuse it with our English word 'gentle'. Our word refers to a kind, amiable, mild person. But this Greek word has a much stronger meaning. The word Paul uses means, "that temper of spirit in which we accept God's dealings with us as good, and therefore, without disputing." (Wuest's Word Studies in the Greek New Testament) And that requires great strength! Gentle ...

To "walk worthy" requires patience. How well we know the battle to exhibit this character trait! Our culture does absolutely nothing to help us train. We are conditioned to want everything quick ... and faster is better. No waiting - ever! The Greek word includes a sense of endurance and constancy. There is steadfastness and perseverance. The part of the definition that caused me to pause and reflect ... "slowness in avenging wrongs." This is a word that describes God Himself. I want to be patient - slow in avenging wrongs - whether those perceived 'wrongs' are as minor as having to wait or as major as dealing with personal hurts. Patient ...

To "walk worthy" requires tolerance for others. Note that the tolerance is toward "one another" - it is toward people. And it is based in love. In Greek the word used means "to hold up". It has everything to do with holding up people, caring for them, accepting them, loving them. Don't confuse it with any idea of accepting sin. In an earlier post we addressed ways that sin kills ... and one of those ways was that sin kills ideals. We must never 'dumb down' the high calling that Christ has given us in regard to our behavior. Keep the ideal. Never compromise on the ideal. But be tolerant of people ... even people who fail miserable with the ideal. And - do you see - that includes yourself? Why? Because of love. Tolerant of one another ...

Lastly, to "walk worthy" requires diligence. This word means "to exert one's self, to endeavor, to do one's best, to be eager." There is no passivity allowed - not if you want to "walk worthy"! This is intentional, deliberate. And our diligence is to preserve the unity of the body. We will explore that unity of body in our next lesson. Diligence ...

Transform us, O Lord ...