“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love…” (Eph 4:1-2 KJV).
Walking worthy of your calling sometimes means not saying anything. We have to be like Jesus. Isaiah said that even when he was going to be crucified, he opened not his mouth. A mature believer knows when to speak and when to be silent.
Maybe you know how to cut a person down to size. Some of us were born with sharp tongues. One of my daughters was born with that.
When she was little she could cut you with her tongue – and still can. By the time you have it out of your mouth, she’s already thought up the reply, just the right one, and will have hit you with it by the time your words are settled on the ground.
She’s just quick-witted. We used to call it “capping” on somebody. Then it became “beast” on somebody. I don’t know what it is today. But, I tell you, in the wrong context, all it does is start a fight.
One of the key things about operating in meekness and gentleness is just keeping your mouth shut. God wants you to walk worthy of your calling. How do you do that? With all lowliness…and meekness…with an even-balance of tempers and passions…with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.
He’s talking about walking worthy of the calling of God. This is how you walk worthy of the calling on you. You have a calling on you. But it is not enough to have the calling. You also have to have the things that go along with the calling.
God called me to raise Christians to be mature, not just babes in the faith. Mature Christians get the job done. They don’t get impressed with themselves when they act on the Word.
“I tithe.”
“I haven’t been sick in a long time.”
“I’ve been using my faith.”
“My needs are met. I know I’m somebody.”
I say, “big deal”!
He gave you the faith. He gave you the Word. He sent ministry gifts to teach you. The Holy Spirit kept working with you. You ought to give Him all the glory and honor.
Like Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. And without me you can do nothing.” You can’t go anywhere. You can’t have anything without Him. You ought to thank Him for His goodness.
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).