Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Jesus brought peace between God and mankind to the world. Even though humanity’s hatred poured out upon Him on the cross, to this day, through His church, Jesus still offers forgiveness to all who repent and trust in Him alone. Through His death on the cross Jesus created forgiveness for all nations, all people.
Those who believe in the Lord Jesus are now His people and are raised to His new life through their baptism. Baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Christians belong to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and are given the Holy Spirit. Because of this high calling, we are taught to remember how Jesus has treated us, and in like manner have His heart for one another.
When St. Paul was in prison, his greatest wish for his fellow believers is that they would remember Jesus and their high calling. And how should they do that? By living in a manner worthy of our calling in Jesus. Through faith in Jesus our lives will be characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with each other in love and eagerness to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Whenever this Christian character is seen among God’s people, there is reason for high praise to God. For God alone is certainly the cause of this great transformation. God grant us faith and His Holy Spirit so that in all things the life of Jesus shall be seen in our relationships towards one another and all others.
Let us pray,
I thank you Lord Jesus for your forgiveness. Please strengthen my faith and remind me of my calling when my relationships with others become difficult. By your strength I was forgiven, and blessed with eternal life. By your strength, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and eagerness to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, these will be see in my life. I thank you for this great blessing. In your name I pray, AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.