The Christian life has been compared to a variety of things. One in particular is that of a walk. A walk in the context of the Christian faith involves the way we live and conduct ourselves throughout our lives. The manor in which we live will either reflect Christ or it will reflect the ways of the world.
Paul wrote, “I,
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling
with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1). There are a multitude of ways
we must walk to be pleasing unto the Lord. We will consider a few.
Bearing with
one another. Walking worthy before the Lord strongly involves our conduct
with one another. Paul continued, “with all lowliness and gentleness, with
longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
Bearing with
one another is not possible apart from a humble mindset. It is the humble
mindset that keeps us from thinking too highly of ourselves. It also enables us
to focus on the needs of others rather than our own needs (cf. Philippians
2:1-4).
Bearing with
one another includes longsuffering. This is equated with patience. Like
humility, bearing with one another is not possible apart from longsuffering.
One who is longsuffering will not give up on a relationship at the first sign
of trouble. Instead, when trouble arises, they will work together until they
can arrive at a workable solution.
Forgiving
one another. No relationship can work without forgiveness. We have all
heard the saying, “To error is human, to forgive divine”. Everyone makes
mistakes. No matter how good someone may appear, they are not perfect.
Eventually, everyone slips, falls, and will let you down.
Paul taught us
how to handle such situations. He wrote, “And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
(Ephesians 4:32).
There are times
that forgiving another can be extremely difficult. We may find ourselves not
even wanting to extend forgiveness to another. What helps us to forgive is to
remember the forgiving nature of Christ. While He was in His greatest agony, He
uttered the words, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they
do.” (Luke 23:34). Remembering the great debt of sin we have been forgiven
goes a long way in helping us extend forgiveness to others.
This is by no
means an exhaustive list of everything we must do to walk worthy of our
calling. However, bearing with one another and forgiving each other points us
in the right direction. Doing these things helps us to be more like our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. The more we grow in His image, the more we will walk
worthy of our calling.
God Bless each
of you,
Eric Hicks
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