Read Ephesians 4:1-6
Christians are CALLED. Paul emphasizes this fundamental aspect of what it means to trust in Jesus by pointing us to the steps that faith takes. Knowing that God has called us out of the world and into fellowship with Him and with each other, we should strive to live our lives in a manner that is worthy of that high calling.
For those who trust in Christ, we have been called out of lives that were devoted to ourselves and living in rebellion to God and we have been called into lives that resemble the life of Christ and a deep unity within that new Christian community. The power of grace as it continues to transform us every day makes us humble and gentle, just as Christ is humble and gentle (Matthew 11:25-30).
Jesus’ heart for us is to welcome us into the most sacred parts of relationship and fellowship that he can offer, and as a result, our heart for him and for all of his people should reflect that. The love of God has called us out, and as a result we live a life that resembles that love and walks in it rather than away from it. This can become extremely difficult in the context and messiness of a church. After all, we are all sinners who have been called out, and part of life in this world is a reckoning with the residual sin that continues to plague us all. When this happens in the context of church it causes division and wounds that seek to divide us who have been united by Jesus’ blood.
It is in this messy context that the power of the call that is on our lives is displayed. We are only able to bear with one another in love because we are renewed by the source of love. We are able to persevere in periods of difficulty because we share the hope of the new heavens and new earth and we know that Jesus is redeeming all things. As we continue to realize the love that God has loved us with in Christ, we will grow in embodying that love and grace in our church, the family of God.
Questions
What does it feel like to remember that all Christians have each been called, personally and powerfully, by God into a new life?
Why is it important for us to root our understanding of community in the call of God?
How do you need to embody Jesus’ gentle and humble heart in community? What does this look like?
How can our community group live this out more fully? What is each of our parts in that?