God brings our gifted design and our deepest desires into alignment when we are awakened to his purposes. Every person has a unique calling coupled with God-given gifts to fulfill their call.
Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. The Amplified Bible adds [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, & mature behavior--a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]
Most people think of a calling in reference to the pastor of a church, but here Paul is addressing believers in general. Everyone is called and it is a God-ordained call that comes with a God-given design.
Ephesians 4:2-3 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called…
Clearly you have the call of God on your life!
Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”…
Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip…
This is referencing something more than merely inspiring. This is about empowering where we move beyond inspirational sermons to formation.
Interestingly this word that translates, “equip” aligns with the Old Testament, Hebrew root wd for “Shalom”. Shalom translates peace, health, prosperity, rest, wellness, happy and friendly in other verses. When we have no money to pay the bills we have no peace. When our health is challenged it is easy to lose our peace. Interestingly we are described as “peacemakers” as sons and daughters of God in Jesus own words.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. NIV
Peace makers are shalom creators in the earth. We are designed by God to take in his presence and release shalom.
Despair is the absence of shalom in all of its meanings.
This is the reversing of the curse contrasting that which is formless, void and chaos – Gen 1:2. God’s plan is for us to experience God’s presence and produce shalom in the earth as a result as we declare God’s Kingdom has come and is here in us!
Ephesians 4:12 (We are to) Equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. NIV
Truly God’s plan is for us to be filled with all the fulness of God according to Ephesians 3:19 and attaining the whole measure of the fulness of Christ according to Ephesians 4:12.
Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, & mature behavior--a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation].
There is a price to pay to advance God’s Kingdom. Keep pressing in. Keep going deeper. God is mightily at work within you right now! Pause to thank Him for the work that He is doing within your heart, your life and your legacy.
GP2RL: Read the book of Ephesians this week and continue to Invite people into your life, your love and your faith journey as the Holy Spirit directs.