Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Live Worthy of Your Calling
Ephesians 4:11-16
Vs.14 -16 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Many of us feel anxious when we realize that we have to live a life worthy of our calling . We feel as if there is high expectation to be met or some great feat to be accomplished.  Little do we know, God’s responsibility for us is much simpler than we think. The passage from Ephesians 4:11-16, teaches us three important points that will enable us to live according to God’s will.
 To begin with, it is imperative that we respond to the calling God has for us. In verse 11, Paul mentions how some believers were called out to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  It was important for these people to live out their calling so that others could grow spiritually.  In the same way, it is our responsibility to take on the role God has chosen for us so that we can help bring others into His kingdom.  We must understand that our actions and decisions not only affect us, but also the people around us. God is eagerly waiting to use us for his glory, but it is our mission to accept what he has in store for us.
 Next, the passage encourages us to remain firm in the faith. After we have responded to our calling and begin working for the Lord, we cannot continue to be weak in our faith. We must have a strong foundation in the Word and not be swayed by the enemy.  We must stand our ground and be prepared to defend our beliefs.  In addition, we must also live out our faith by “speaking the truth in love” (v.15).  This requires us to live truthfully following God’s commands.
 Lastly, we must remember that we are part of the body of Christ.  The body is made up of different parts that function by working together as one cohesive unit. In the same way, because we belong to Christ’s body, we are never alone in our mission. We as Christians have one unified goal and by creating unity, we are able to work efficiently for the Lord. Therefore, though trials may come, we have the love, support and prayers from our fellow believers to help keep us going.
 We must know that we should never hold back from God. He is giving us the opportunity to make a difference in this corrupted world.  Therefore, we must respond to his calling and work towards sharing the gospel to those in need of a Savior.
PRAYER
Almighty God, we ask for the strength to answer the great calling you have for us. Please enable us to persevere and strive to live a life worthy to your calling. Allow us to stand firm in the faith and not be shaken by the world around us. Help us to never forget that we are not alone, for you will always be there to lift us up when we fall. Thank you for always listening. In your name we pray, Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God always hears our cry, but how often do we listen for his whisper?
Marybeth Babu, Long Island MTC NY
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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