◄ What Does Ephesians 4:1 Mean? ►

The manifold riches of God's grace towards His children sparkle like a myriad of shining stars throughout the book of Ephesians, reaching into the heavenlies as, verse by verse, we are shown more of the gracious provision that God has poured out, without measure, over the heads of all who trust in the Lord Jesus as Saviour.

For three whole chapters, Paul rehearses all the amazing benefits that God has, in His grace, showered on those that love Him – as the apostle opens to our understanding our position and privileges in Christ, and the inheritance that God has secured for all His blood-bought children.

Having taken us to the heady heights of grace upon grace upon much more grace, Paul begins to tell us how we should live as children of God and how we should behave as inheritors of the many benefits and privileges that God has prepared for each of us who have simply trusted the Lord Jesus.

Because of our position in Christ we are urged to live our lives in a manner that is befitting our heavenly calling. Because we are the children of the King, we are urged to walk in a manner that is worthy of our royal status. Because we have been called out of darkness into His kingdom of light and have been adopted as heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, and inheritors of the kingdom of the majesty on high, we are to live and move and have our being in the liberty wherewith Christ and the Spirit has made us free; to walk by faith in Christ and to walk in the ways of God, to His honour and glory.

As bond-servants of Christ, we are given a valuable list of how we should live, having put off our old selves and put on the new self "created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." We are exhorted to put off falsehood and speak truthfully; steal no longer but instead work and share; speak helpful and wholesome words; get rid of bitterness, anger, and slander and in their place put forgiveness, kindness and compassion.

Paul rejoiced to be a prisoner of the Lord, not for any wrong that he had done, for all sin and every sin was forgiven at the Cross, but for the sake of the Lord Jesus Who loves us and gave Himself for us. Let us, therefore, as prisoners of our Lord Jesus Christ, walk in a manner worthy of the heavenly calling to which we have been called.

Loving Father, I pray that I too might be a bond-servant of Christ Who shed His blood to save me from my sins, and that I might walk in a manner that is worthy of the glorious calling to which You have called me. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.