Worthy of the Calling - Martin Wiles

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling. Ephesians 4:1 NLT

Ralph Johnson was following God’s call but wasn’t sure he was worthy.

As a young adult, Ralph had entered the ministry. With one son in tow and two more to come, he lived his life by the biblical mandate that if a man can’t control his family he’s not worthy to lead God’s church. This wasn’t an issue until his firstborn began experimenting with teenage rebellion. Had it just been talking back, he could have handled it, but it went farther. He cut school, drank, smoked, and experimented with drugs. To top it off, he didn’t care who knew. And many church folks did. 

For the next four years, Ralph battled bouts of depression and threatened to resign. He breathed a sigh of relief when his oldest son graduated high school, but more challenges came when his two younger sons decided to follow in their brother’s footsteps. For most of his ministry, Ralph didn’t feel worthy of his calling. 

God often places special callings on our lives, but the foundational calling is his invitation to believe and serve him obediently. Obedience is the acid test that I’m walking worthy of my calling. Jesus plainly stated if I love him I will obey. 

Obedience produces certain traits, demonstrating I’m walking worthy of my calling. One is humility. Not weakness. Not being someone’s doormat. Rather, not thinking more of myself than I should…but not less either. Another is gentleness. Not prone to revenge. A third is patience. Recognizing God is working to form me more into his likeness, and that he is also doing the same for others. A fourth is unity. I’m bound to other believers by the mutual belief that Jesus is the only way to the Father. And finally, peace. Searching for common ground that unifies rather than differences that divide. 

Walking worthy of my calling takes work, diligence, and ingenuity. Most of all, it takes allowing God to guide my travel. 

Let God work on traits that are keeping you from walking worthy of your calling.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for the calling You have issued to be Your representatives in this world. Help us walk worthy of that calling. 

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