RECONCILED

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3).

Recent research suggests the worldwide Church is at a point of crisis. The global persecution of Christians is growing at an alarming rate, church attendance is down in the West, and the news is filled with stories about younger generations rejecting Christianity altogether.

Now is the time for us to come together as one family so that instead of

the Church imploding, the Church begins exploding.

In Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul tells us we have been called to “live in a manner worthy of “ that calling and gives us the keys to do that:

Humility and gentleness Patience and love Eagerness for unity

These are characteristics, Paul says, that we should live out with one another and the world at large.

They’re the distinguishing traits of Jesus who said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

In the Church, as in life, we can create and encounter problems because we’re so busy working for Jesus that we forget to be like Jesus?

Our calling is a high and holy one. To walk in a way worthy of that calling, we must walk in the way of Christ. His way is loving and humble.

Remember, Jesus came to reconcile all things to Himself. This is the essence of unity and contains no divisions and strife.

Reconciliation is primary to God’s plan. In fact, Paul reminds us of our obligation in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19: All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

What do you need to change in your life to walk in a way worthy of God’s plan to reconcile us to Him?