A Live Worthy...

Good Morning,

Ephesians 4:1-2 (NIV)
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:1-2 (AMP)
I THEREFORE, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service, living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.

Do I, do we, "live a life worthy of the calling" that we have received from God? Do I, do we, live my, our, lives with humility, meekness, unselfishness, gentleness, mildness, and with patience, bearing with one another, making allowances because we love one another?

In my life I wish that I could answer "Yes" to any of the attributes that we read today. I would love to tell you that I live a life that is worthy of God's calling on my life. It would thrill me to be able to say that I am a person who lives my life with true humility and gentleness. I can't tell you how happy I would be to say that I am patient and that I bear with my brothers and sisters with the love I ought to. Yes, it would fill me with true joy to honestly say "Yes" to these things. But, you see, I'm a sinful human being and I cannot really do that...not if I'm to be 100% honest with myself, with you, and with God.

Now, if I had some magic answer or some real insightful knowledge of how to gain these qualities, these virtues, in our lives, well, I'd already be doing that in mine. So, no, I don't have the "how" of really living my life with the characteristics that we read today. You've no idea how I wish that I could...both live my life like this and to tell you how to do it, as well.

Maybe I'm being too harsh on myself about this and probably being too harsh on those who read these words, as well. But, I have to tell you, God is speaking to me about this today and He speaks to me about it a lot. God is speaking to you, also, just as He's speaking to everyone through the words we read in the Bible. Perhaps we all have some of these qualities in our lives to one extent or another. And I know that there are none of us who are totally lacking in all of these things. However, I feel that the Lord would have us all look to see where we are failing somewhat and where we ought to be focusing in improving.

That's what I hear this morning. Look, be honest, ask God for His help.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David