Day 7: Called

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.  Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. Ephesians 4:1-7 (NLT)

SCRIPTURE: "Therefore I ... beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God."

OBSERVATION: Most non-Christians won't give Christianity a chance because most Christians are hypocrites - not loving our neighbors; and, not putting in the time and effort to be transformed by God.

We are called by God, called to live a higher standard of life. This is, at the same time, really easy but takes effort.

APPLICATION:Extending from Day 5's article that speaks about loving others, this is something we are called to do. Paul lays it out for us:

• Always be humble and gentle
• Be patient [& forgiving] with each other
• Be united and peaceful with fellow believers
• And united to the Holy Spirit

This last point is (perhaps the most) important as the "special gift [given] through the generosity of Christ" is in fact the Holy Spirit. He enables us to do more then we could ever do under our own steam. Therefore, 'doing' and 'trying' on its own, can never be as successful as it is when we spend time with God and the Holy Spirit!

PRAYER:

Holy Spirit,

please help me to live my life in a way that makes you proud!

please help me to be gentle and kind, and especially forgiving - I know I'm really bad at that. 

And please help me to draw closer to you - you are the bread of life, the life-giving water! I know I cant do this without you Lord!

Amen.