Board Chaplain Devo: What’s A Worthy Walk?
How, then, shall we actually live?
If we’re not careful and committed, we can end up learning a whole lot about Jesus and living nothing like Him.
Think of all the times you hear how we need to ‘live like Jesus’ from the preacher or at a Bible study gathering, yet now often is that explained practically? The idea of how to practice a worthy walk is often left very vague.
Yet when a person chooses to be part of a society, they obligate themselves to certain standards established by that society, and the failure to conduct themselves in a worthy manner affects the whole of that society. This applies in marriage, in the church, missions, military branches, and in the Kingdom of God.
Toward the end of his life, Paul addressed the Ephesian church and all of us regarding what a worthy walk looks like.
I Paul, the prisoner of the Lord entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you’ve been called.
—Ephesians 4:1
What does a worthy walk look like?
What comes to your mind when you hear it?
In this passage, Paul shares what he thinks a worthy walk will look like for every follower.
The Why Before the How
Be diligent to preserve (guard, watch over) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (harmony).
—Ephesians 4:3
Why is Unity of Spirit so important?
As parents, we recognize the blessing of seeing our children united in a bond of peace. God indicated in Psalm 133 that He too is blessed to see His children in unity. It pleases Him.
It’s attractive to a divided world. I Corinthians 6 speaks to believers in disunity and its effects on a nonbelieving society. I Corinthians 12 speaks to the beauty of unity that results in the common good. So unity attracts through harmony. Harmony is attractive.
It brings strength. One cord can be overpowered if alone, two can resist, and a cord of three is not easily broken. Eccl 4:12 This is a picture of live woven together, intertwined.
Beautiful words, but what do they mean?
In all humility with gentleness and patience showing forbearance in love.
—Ephesians 4:2
Humility: being lowly-minded (as opposed to high-minded). This particular virtue was considered a moral flaw by societies up until Jesus introduced it as a virtue.
Gentleness: a disposition that lays no claims, recognizes the need to handle with delicate hands, values people as much, if not more, as processes.
Forbearance: to suffer long, sustained patience; the desire to delay judgement and prefer mercy.
These are the marks of a good and faithful Walk.
So may God give us eyes to recognize when others living this out, and may we have the wisdom and Christ-like grit to produce this kind of fruit, even in a world that refuses to practice the fruit that comes from the Spirit.
Photo credit to Dennis Ottink on Unsplash.