The silent power of a worthy walk
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:1-2).
I remember being present at the birth of my daughter Anna and being overwhelmed by the tiny bundle of life I held gently in my arms. I was also amazed at the speed of her development. There was an experiment in which Olympic-standard athletes were asked to imitate the movements of a tiny child. The scientists discovered that mature adults could not continue the repetitive motions of a baby for the same length of time. Our natural lives begin with an explosion of energy and development. Paul always looked for spiritual progress in himself and his fellow Christians. This progress is seen in the way a Christian lives. And Ephesians 4 begins with the Christian’s walk.
The first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians are devoted to God’s will, work and wisdom manifested in the Church of Christ. Chapters 4 to 6 are concerned about the practical implications of that teaching in the life of Christians. This is not limited to our personal responsibilities, but includes how we act in fellowship together.
In verse 1, Paul appeals to the Christians at Ephesus to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called”. It is a call to live in a way which honours the One who had called them. In 2 Timothy 2:4 we have a similar example. Paul writes about the soldier’s commitment to please the one who enlisted him. Also, in 1 Corinthians 6:20 we read, “For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” This consistency between our calling and conduct is vital. If we do not live lives which are consistent with our faith, then our Christian testimony fails. The extent to which we appreciate how much God has done for us will determine how well we live for Him.
In verse 2, Paul outlines some of the things which should characterise us in this walk: humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another. These are features that may seem disadvantages in an aggressive world. But we see them so clearly in the life of the most powerful man who ever lived on earth, Jesus Christ. Meekness is not weakness; it is the quietness of power.
The first time I ever sat in an electric car it seemed like any other car until we set off. It moved slowly and quietly, and then accelerated quickly and powerfully, but even then in quietness. In John 1 Andrew and his fellow disciple saw Jesus “as He walked”; they followed Him, and He invited them to “abide” or “to stay” with Him. That changed their lives. John later writes, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” God has given us eternal life through the Lord Jesus, who died for us and now lives for us. The Spirit of God indwells our hearts, and the word of God is in our possession. We have everything we need to enable us to live like our Saviour. We live in a noisy world. May we walk through it in the quiet, powerful witness of grace.
