“I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” – Ephesians 4:1
Happy New Year!! It is an honor to write the first Daily Fill Devotional of 2024! I pray that this will be a year that you and I live in the way of Jesus with the heart of Jesus on mission with Jesus. This is exactly what Paul is urging us to do in our passage today. He is urging us “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called.” We have been called to live out our faith, interacting in the world in such a way that we represent the One that called us. He is encouraging us to live from a place of security in who we are in Christ. So, I can’t think of a better way to start this year, than to be reminded about who God has called you to be. Here are twelve statements from Ephesians that tell us about who we are called to be.
We are called faithful saints before we ever deserve it (1:1).
We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (1:3).
We have been chosen before the foundation of the world (1:4).
We have been adopted as sons and daughters of God (1:5).
We have been redeemed and forgiven by his grace (1:7).
We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, who guarantees our inheritance (1:13-14)
We have been made alive with Christ (2:4).
We have been raised up and seated with Jesus in the heavenly places (2:5).
We were created to join in God’s good works (2:10).
We were once far from God, but have been brought near by Christ’s blood (2:13).
We are not strangers or aliens but are fellow citizens of God’s household (2:19).
We are being built together as a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (2:22).
This is who you have been called to be. This is who you are. Now, let’s go live like it. Take a moment to pray that you would walk in this manner today… living your life as if these things are really true about you… even when you don’t feel like it. God wants you to hear His voice of truth and love today, and He wants you to believe it so much that it changes the way you live. I pray that would be true for us today. May you walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.
Josh Rose
Discipleship Pastor
P.S. One way to be continually reminded of who we are, is to open the scriptures every day. On this first day of the year, it may be a good idea to start a new reading plan. We have some options for you on our website that allow you to read along with others. Please visit efcc.org/read-bible for more information.