Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for
each other’s faults because of your love. – Ephesians 4:2 NLT
This stood out like neon, “…walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…” (verse 1).
Worthy
of the calling?Now, I read worthy and I automatically think, “I’m out! Not me. I’m definantly not worthy, so how in the world am I to fulfill this verse?”
Then as I read on I was struck again, “…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love…”
THAT is walking worthy.
In my tendency to be a modern Pharisee, I think of walking worthy as not sinning. You know, not cussing, or being involved in something immoral, or hanging out with “worldly” people, or an ongoing list of various, “do’s” and “don’ts”. But that’s not what the Spirit says at all!
Walking worthy of the calling with which we were called is
being humble and gentle and patient, making allowances for
faults done against us by others because of love.
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they
were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 18:9-14
Oh Father, I tend to be a Pharisee, but when I see the, “…with which” I was called- Jesus’ blood shed for me- I realize how wretched I am and much You’ve made me worth! Help me to walk in the humility that demonstrates the worth of my life!
Sheila Dougal 
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