WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND IS DOING
The Father has...
...blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (1:3).
...chosen us to be holy before Him in love (1:4).
...made us alive with Christ (2:5).
...raised us up in heavenly places with Christ (2:6)
The Father is...
...working resurrection power in us (1:19-20).
...giving us wisdom and revelation of Him (2:17).
...strengthening us with might in the inner man (3:16).
In the Son we have...
...redemption through His blood (1:7a).
...the forgiveness of sins (1:7b).
...obtained an inhertance from the Father (1:11).
...been reconciled to God (2:16).
...been rooted and grounded in love (3:17).
Through the Holy Spirit...
...we are sealed by His promise (1:13).
...we are guaranteed our inheritance (1:14).
...Christ dwells in us (2:22, 3:17).
...the Father strengthens us in the inner man (3:16).
...we personally know the love of Christ (3:19).
WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO
"Walk in a manner worthy of your calling"
(Ephesians 4:1).
Only because of what the God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have done for us and in us, and continue to do in us, can we fulfill this command to "walk worthy." I am so excited to share with you three related meanings of the Greek word worthy in regards to our relationship with God who alone is worthy! Be encouraged!
1. The word worthy has the meaning of equal weight. Paul is exhorting the Ephesian believers to give equal weight to doctrine (chapters 1-3) and practice (chapters 4-6).
Too much weight to doctrine puffs us up with prideful knowledge. Too much weight to practice lead to fleshly works.
2. This equal weight definition can also been related to living in balance with your view of salvation. Ephesians 1-3 beautifully defines the high value of your salvation according to the riches of Christ Himself. If you don't know these truths, you will have a low value of salvation and a corresponding low view of Christian living.
God calls us to grow in knowing the amazing value of salvation presented in Ephesians 1-3 (although we will never fully understand the full value) so that we will grow in living a fulfilled life in Christ that Paul exhorts us ot live in Ephesians 4-6.
3. The Greek word worthy also carries the idea of matching, like matching colors or colors that balance each other. A helpful synonym for the word worthy is becoming. For example, when a certain set of colors and clothing "match" a person's personality and physique, we might say "That looks becoming on you."
Therefore, this verse can be interpreted, "Walk in a manner becoming of your calling." I love this!
CLOSING
My heart is for these Rest Stops to be opportunities for us to reflect upon and more fully believe what the Father has done for, and in, us through His Dear Son.
And then when we pull back out into the roadway of life, I hope we will be encouraged to trust the Holy Spirit to empower and guide us in our journeys that will be: (1) fulfilling to us in knowing Christ more and more, (2) becoming to others so they will be drawn to know Him too, and (3) glorifying to our Father.
