“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Ephesians 4:1, ESV)
On Saturday, the US Senate confirmed a new Supreme Court Justice. There was and is much controversy around this appointment. There is great emotion on both sides. The debate raged if Kavanaugh was worthy to hold this high office. I don’t want to use this forum to debate Kavanaugh’s fitness to serve. That is best left to a political blog. But what I want to talk about is your appointment by the highest of authorities to the highest of callings.
A Supreme Court Justice is appointed by a man. The length of his service is until he dies or he retires. But you are appointed to your calling by God. And the length of your service is for all eternity. You have an appointment to something that is much greater than the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is an earthly office. The calling of a believer is a heavenly office.
The Apostle Paul tells us to walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling we have been given. And indeed, Paul walked worthy. He writes as “a prisoner for the Lord.” This was no metaphor. He was literally in prison when he wrote these words. He was willing to suffering persecution and imprisonment because of his calling. Eventually, he would give his life for it.
This calling is not about your self-worth. Your worth is in Christ. Your worth is not based on what you do, but on what Christ has done for you. You are greatly loved and prized by God. If the basis of your calling were your own merit, you would never receive confirmation. The calling you received is an undeserved gift of grace.
With all that said, your calling is of immense worth. It is worth the best of your time and energy. You cannot give enough to it. You could give all of life’s resources, and it still would not be enough. It is worthy of your life because there is no higher calling. There is nothing greater that you could be called to. There is nothing that will leave you more fulfilled than to give everything to this calling. And it is amazing that God entrusts you and me with this calling that he gives us.
Are you willing to walk worthy of that calling and give it everything it deserves? It deserves nothing but our best! In the next couple of days, we will be looking at Ephesians 4 that describes what this calling is and how we might live it out.
Reflection
- What do you think Paul means when he says to walk worthy of your calling?
- What is your calling?
- What does it mean to you that you have been appointed by the highest of authorities to a heavenly and eternal calling?
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