READ: Ephesians 4 (Focus vs. 1-6 & 11-16)
MEMORY VERSE
“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1
BACKGROUND
In 1997, Iowa State University named its football stadium after the school’s first black athlete: Jack Trice. Tragically, Trice had never even played in Ames, Iowa—he died from internal injuries sustained during a play in his second college game, played in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 6, 1923.
Trice wrote a note to himself the night before the game, bearing witness to his determination:
“The honor of my race, family, and self are at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will! My whole body and soul are to be thrown recklessly about on the field tomorrow. Every time the ball is snapped, I will be trying to do more than my part.”
Trice profoundly understood that what he did flowed from the honor and dignity of who he was, infusing his character with courage.
The apostle Paul says something similar in his letter to the Ephesians, challenging believers to let who they were in Christ influence every decision: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1).
Paul challenges us to embrace a way of living shaped by Jesus’ work for us, in us, and through us, which yields humility, gentleness, patience, unity, love, and peace (vv. 2-3) as we use our God-given gifts to serve one another (vv. 15-16).
Adam R. Holz
INSIGHT
God’s love poured out through the creation of a new community made up of believing Jews and gentiles—something Paul calls “the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4)—is the foundation for the apostle’s encouragement to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (4:1).
Jews and gentiles—two groups long estranged from each other—were called to devote themselves to cultivating the unity created through Christ’s Spirit (v. 3). They needed to serve one another “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (v. 2 esv).
Today, we’re also called to love and serve others with the gifts we’ve been given.
APPLICATION
What’s the connection between our beliefs and actions? What gifts has God given you to serve others?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“(As believers, we are challenged) to embrace a way of living shaped by Jesus’ work for us, in us, and through us…”
PR’s TAKE
“Continuing the work of Jesus: Peacefully, Simply, Together.” Church of the Brethren Tagline
“…When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” 1Corinthians 9:22-27
PRAYER
”Dear Father, thank You for inviting me into a life filled with meaning and significance. Please help me to love and serve others with the gifts You’ve given.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE”
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill,
O may it all my pow’rs engage
To do my Master’s will!
Arm me with watchful care
As in Thy sight to live,
And now Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!
Help me to watch and pray,
And still on Thee rely,
O let me not my trust betray,
But press to realms on high.
