In chapter 4, verse 1, 0f Ephesians, we read Paul's exhortation
to live a life "worthy of our calling". That phrase
bears consideration.
The
Meaning of Worthy
The
word used in the original Greek has at least two different emphases
when it was used in normal life:
1.
Of equal weight or worth
i.e. balancing up the scales, or matching the other
thing.
Imagine a pair of scales. On one side is the calling you have
from Christ. On the other side is the way you live your life.
The way you live is to balance or be of equal worth or value as all
that which has gone into your calling.
2.
Of equal appearance
i.e. that is fit or becoming of such a person.
In this picture imagine a bridegroom going to his wedding. We
would not expect him to go in tatty clothes, but clothes that are befitting
the occasion, clothes for a celebration, clothes that would live
up to the glory of the bride's dress. To be able to stand alongside
her, he has to be worthy of the occasion.
Paul's
Picture
So we find Paul exhorting us to live in such a way that balances
up, or matches up to the calling that is ours. That immediately
puts our attention on just what that calling is.
The
Nature of our Calling
"Church" simply means "the called out ones"
and the picture is given in Scripture of us having been called out of
darkness into light (1 Pet 2:9 / Col 1:13). That was only possible
because Christ died for us so that we could be forgiven, cleansed and
empowered in a new relationship with God the Father - this is the work
of the Cross.
The first aspect of the life we live, therefore, is to remember
that this is all the work of God, and to live life humbly and with all
the fruit of the Spirit growing in us (Eph 4:2).
This calling is to become part of Christ's body, the church,
so we are simply one among many, and part of our new lifestyle is to
learn to get along in a new way with people - the church (Eph 4:3-13).
This calling is also an ongoing process, working out the will
of God, so we are to grow up or mature, so our life will be growing
to become more like Christ (Eph 4:14,15)
As you can see from these comments, our calling has a variety
of aspects to it and we are to balance or live up to these in our daily
lives. You may wish to think on other aspects of our calling.
The
Call to Live Worthily
We
find similar calls elsewhere in the New Testament to live by a standard:
Matt
10:37,38 - worthy of Christ
1
Thess 2:12 - worthy of God
Phil
1:27 - worthy of the Gospel of Christ
2
Thess 1:5 - worthy of the kingdom of God
Perhaps if you have time, you might like to look up each
of these references and meditate on the truths presented here.
The basic message is the same throughout - our lives, now that we are
Christians, children of God, are to match these things, to live up to
these. There is a standard to be matched.