Union Gospel
9/27/2025
Title: “Walking
Worthy of the Call”
Text:
Ephesians 4:1-2 (NIV)
"As
a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling
you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with
one another in love."
Introduction
The
Apostle Paul writes this letter from prison — not from a place of comfort, but
a place of suffering. Yet his concern is not for himself, but for the Church —
for you and me. He pleads with believers to live lives that reflect
the high calling we have received in Christ.
Ephesians
chapter 1 to 3, Paul laid out the foundation of Ephesians doctrine and how
Grace has worked in our lives. He writes to remind them on how God’s Grace has
brought them into sonship. Paul told them they have been adopted and brought
into to be holy and blameless through the blood of Jesus and are sealed by the
Holy Spirit with a promise that we have an inheritance and hope that is
eternal. Prior to this, this was a mystery.
The
call to salvation is a call to transformation — not just in our beliefs, but in
how we treat one another, how we walk every day, and how we reflect the heart
of Jesus in a hurting world.
Today,
we will explore four marks of a life worthy of this calling:
1.
Living worthy of the calling
2.
Being humble and gentle
3.
Being patient
4.
Bearing with one another in love
And
with each, we’ll look at a real-life illustration and a corresponding verse
that reinforces the message.
1.
Living Worthy of the Calling You Have Received
What
does it mean to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling" we have
received? It means our daily lives should reflect the transformative power of
the gospel, display godly character and living in alignment with who we are in
Christ. It is not about earning our salvation, but about responding
appropriately to the incredible grace already given. Paul
doesn't say, “Live in a way that earns your calling,” but rather, “Live
worthy of the calling you already have.” That
calling is to be sons and daughters of the King, representatives of
Jesus on earth. Paul is telling us that we all have received our call.
Sometimes
our earthly Father & Mother failed us and we want to take our journey on a
different direction. The Good News is that our Father in Haeven call us his
children regardless how the world perceived us. “We are children of God” and
that is our Legacy. We are asked here to live out that legacy.
Are we
living like Godly children or worldly children?
Are we
living with Godly Legacy or hopeless legacy?
Are we
speaking Godly Language or demonic language?
Are we
living purposefully or just dust in the wind?
Are we
responding to God Grace or ignore what He has done for us?
Are we
facing the fire and claiming our Godly Legacy?
Illustration:
A
young man was adopted by a wealthy, noble family. Though once a street child,
he now bore the family name. One day, he returned to his old neighborhood and
was tempted to steal. But then he looked at the ring on his hand — the family
seal — and remembered who he was now. He walked away, whispering to himself,
"I must live worthy of my name."
Related
Verse:
"But
you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special
possession..." — 1 Peter 2:9
We are
God's chosen people. The way we walk should reflect whose we
are.
2. Be
Completely Humble and Gentle
The
world celebrates pride, power, and pushing others aside to get ahead. But in
the kingdom of God, the way up is down — through humility and gentleness. You
see, Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking
of yourself less. It means recognizing our dependence on God and valuing
others above ourselves, as Philippians 2:3 reminds us: "Do nothing from
selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than
yourselves." It's seeing ourselves accurately in light of God's majesty
and our own shortcomings.
Humility
is how we practice our Faith
Humility
is how we shine God’s light on other
Humility
is seeing the greatness in others
Humility
is working in Godly unity
Humility
is recognizing our dependency in God
Humility
is learning from others
Illustration:
A
famous pastor was invited to speak at a large international conference. When he
arrived, no one recognized him. An usher mistook him for a janitor and asked
him to help clean up a spill. Without hesitation, he knelt and cleaned. Only
later did they realize who he was. That act of quiet humility preached louder
than any sermon.
Related
Verse:
"Take
my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart..." — Matthew 11:29
To be
like Jesus is to be gentle and humble — not harsh, not proud, not boastful. Not
only in public, but especially in private.
3. Be
Patient
Patience
is not just waiting — it's how you behave while you're
waiting. It's choosing grace over irritation, calm over chaos.
- Patience: Patience
is a steadfast endurance in the face of difficulties and delays, a
characteristic of love itself (1 Corinthians 13:4). It involves trusting
God's timing and purpose, even when we don't understand it. James 1:3-4
teaches us, "the testing of your faith produces patience".
- Practicing
Patience: Developing patience involves actively trusting in God's timing
and embracing the journey of growth. It involves accepting discomfort,
forgiving others, extending grace, and focusing more on God than on
people.
Illustration:
A
teacher had a struggling student who failed every test. Instead of giving up,
she stayed after school every day, encouraging him, tutoring him, and believing
in him. After two years, he not only passed — he topped the class. Later, at
her retirement, he said, “She saw what I could be, not just what I was.”
Related
Verse:
"The
Lord is not slow in keeping his promise... Instead, he is patient with
you..." — 2 Peter 3:9
If God
is patient with us, how much more should we be patient with each
other?
4.
Bear with One Another in Love
To
“bear with” someone means to endure, to forgive,
to stay, even when it's hard. Not because the other person is
perfect, but because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter
4:8).
Illustration:
A
husband and wife were married for 60 years. When asked their secret, the wife
replied, “We made a promise — when one of us was angry, the other would choose
love. We bore with each other, because love doesn't walk away.”
Related
Verse:
"Love
is patient, love is kind... it keeps no record of wrongs." — 1
Corinthians 13:4-5
Bearing
with one another in love doesn’t mean ignoring wrong — it means choosing love
even when there’s wrong.
Conclusion:
Walk the Walk
Ephesians
4:1–2 is not just good advice; it is the very DNA of what it means to follow
Jesus.
Walking
worthy of our calling is not easy. It requires us to lay down our own desires,
our pride, and our self-centeredness. It calls for humility, gentleness,
patience, and a deep love that is willing to endure the shortcomings of others.
But this is the life to which we have been called, and it is a life empowered
by the Holy Spirit. Let us strive daily to clothe ourselves in these virtues,
reflecting the character of Christ and building up the body of believers in
love and unity
To
walk worthy of our calling is:
- To walk humbly, not
proudly.
- To walk gently, not
harshly.
- To walk patiently,
not irritably.
- To walk in love, not
judgment.
Challenges for this week:
- Am I living in a way that
reflects the name and call of Christ on my life?
- Do I respond to others with
humility and gentleness?
- Where is God asking me to be more
patient?
- Is there someone I need to “bear
with” in love this week?
Prayer
“Lord,
help us to walk worthy of the calling You have given us. Make us humble like
You, gentle in our words, patient in our hearts, and loving in all our
relationships. May our lives reflect Your grace every day. In Jesus' name,
amen.”
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