A Balanced Walk

Ever watch a child learn to to ride a bike?

A disciple’s life is like ridding a bike keep moving forward, stay balanced, don’t give up — Develop

That is what Paul is attempting to teach the Ephesians in Chapter 4.

Ephesians 4:1–2 NIV

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

This is the word of God…

Paul starts with an urge to the Ephesians encouraging them to respond to the present reality for the one called by God.

Paul says, “then or therefore.”

Paul is saying based on that I have said…for three chapters Paul has been teaching them:

You’ve been adopted

You are chosen and given every spiritual blessing

You are adopted into a family with an inheritance

You are sealed with the Spirit

Everything you need you already possess

You are in Christ

You are prayed for — Chapter 3:14-21

To all this Paul says, “Then, I urge you…”

A Life Worthy of Your Calling

Ephesians 4:1 NIV

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

“Worthy” — In a manner befitting or deserving of some person

Weighing as much, counter balance, of like value

“Live a life” — to live in a specified manner, to go about doing, conduct yourself in a specified way.

Ephesians 4 outlines that specified manner

Is what you believe, everything Paul has said for three chapters, in balance with the manner you live your life

As a follower you have a calling on your life, you were called

“Calling” — the condition one enters upon the acceptance of a summons;

Especially all that is expected of a person who accepts God’s summons to the hope of salvation in Jesus.

Our walk is step by step we are to walk in direction that corresponds to our call

That call to know the grace of God in Christ, to be children of God, and to serve Him as dedicated to Him

The obligation is to live in a manner that is in accordance with who we are in Him and pleasing Him in all things

The Manner of Life

What is the manner of life?

Paul begins to answer that question — Ephesians 4:2

Ephesians 4:2 NIV

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

“Be” — Preposition of manner, used by Paul to express He is now going to demonstrate the manner of a worthy or balanced life

There are 4 aspects to the manner of life listed by Paul

“Humble” — the disposition of valuing or expressing ones self appropriately

Especially in light of one’s sinfulness

“Gentle” — even tempered, courtesy, mildness

“Patience” — long-suffering, patient endurance, a quality of God required of his followers

“Bearing” — tolerance, to endure something unpleasant or difficult, bear with, giving patience to someone until the harassment has passed

The action of “bearing” is simultaneous with the action “to live a life”

Meaning you are unable to bear if your life is out of balance!

“Love” — the love of service and sacrifice, others centered love

These four humble, gentle, patience, and bearing are the test for us as we look into our life.

By those four aspects we can begin to know if our life is in balance our not!

Conclusion

As we walk God is with us, like a parent teaching their child to walk — develop

You can’t expect to live a balance life unless you are in relationship with God.

He will encourage and challenge us as we walk together

A disciple’s life is like ridding a bike keep moving forward, stay balanced, don’t give up.

This is why B.I.O. is so important, look at the back of your bulletin:

Before God Daily

In Community Weekly

On mission 24/7

Mission Statement:

To share the love of Jesus with our world and to make disciples who make disciples.