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by Rob Globke
Intro - Ephesians 4:1-2
Ephesians 4:1-2
“I [Paul] 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,”If you read the intro (and we suggest you do!), then you know our first job is to address the question: "Who are we?"
This question is very important. VERY IMPORTANT. It gets at our core, our identity. So, who are we?
Well, Ephesians 4:1 can help us answer this question. At the end of the verse it says that “you have been called.” No, this is not talking about being called on your iphone or even your android phone for that matter! This is not talking about being called up to the NHL from the AHL. This is talking about God calling you to be His adopted son or daughter. The calling Eph. 4:1 is talking about is the greatest calling that we could ever have. It is the calling from our Heavenly Father.
Many people think being a hockey player, or being a brother, or being a plumber, or being a doctor, or being a dad, or being a mom, or being anything else is the end all be all. For many people these are the things that make them who they are. While these earthly titles can be important to who we are, they are not at the core of who we are supposed to be. Ephesians 4:1 tells us who we really are. Ephesians 4:1 reminds us that we are called by God to be set apart as his adopted son or daughter.
God's Calling to Us
So, what does this mean, “God calling us”? Well, let’s look back a few chapters in Ephesians to find out. According to the first part of Ephesians, through Jesus Christ, God has called us to be:- Blessed with every spiritual blessing (1:3)
- Chosen for his family before the world began (1:4)
- Adopted as His sons (1:5)
- Redeemed by the blood of Christ (1:7)
- Given a heavenly inheritance (1:11)
- Sealed with the Holy Spirit (1:13)
- Made alive in Christ (2:5)
- Seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (2:6)
- Saved by grace (2:8)
- Close to God rather than far off (2:13)
- A new man (2:15)
- Fellow citizens with other Christians (2:19)
This amazing list is who we are supposed to be. We are meant to be a part of God’s family. Saved by His Son. Given a tremendous inheritance and blessing. Called and chosen to be made alive and new.
Homework:
You are not just a hockey player, or a brother, or a goalie, or a student, or anything else. You are a child of God. This is your true identity. Remember this because it impacts everything you do.
In closing, I want you to think about one last thing. I want you to think about how awesome it is that in Christ God chose you. Out of all the people in the world, He called you to be set apart. He wanted you so much He sent His only Son to die for you so that you could be a part of His family. This is utterly amazing. But, do you believe it?
We often think we are responsible for choosing God, as if he was an option on a multiple choice test. We can think we have weighed all the options and have picked God to be our God because that’s the choice we liked best. No, no, no...let’s not fool ourselves. Ephesians 4:1 reminds us He has called us, chosen us before the world began, and that is a very high calling indeed.
What has formed your identity lately? Christ, hockey, or something else?How does who you are affect what you are supposed to do? (key question for next week!)Next week, we will look at what we are supposed to do if we are called to be God’s sons and daughters.
