Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Have you ever stopped and really asked yourself: Am I walking in a manner worthy of my calling as a follower of Jesus?

That’s the question Paul puts in front of us in Ephesians 4:1–16. He begins this section with a personal appeal:

“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, ESV)

The word “walk” here means more than just physical steps. It means to live, to conduct yourself, to carry out your daily life. Paul is saying: Your life should match your calling.

And make no mistake—you are called. If you belong to Jesus, you are called to live in a way that reflects Him and builds up His body, the church.

One Family, One Body, One Call

Paul has already reminded us in Ephesians 2 and 3 that God has broken down the wall between Jew and Gentile. Two groups who were once enemies are now one family in Christ.

Now in chapter 4, Paul takes it a step further. He says: if we are one family, then we need to live like it.

Unity isn’t just a nice idea—it’s our calling.

Ephesians 4:4–6 says:

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

One body. One Spirit. One hope. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One God and Father.

Paul is making it crystal clear—division has no place in the church.

Four Requirements for Unity

Paul doesn’t just command unity; he tells us how to live it out. He lists four attitudes that are essential if we’re going to walk worthy of our calling and live in unity.

1. Humility

Humility means putting others before ourselves. It means refusing to make everything about us. Philippians 2:3 says: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Humility doesn’t come naturally. Our world tells us to “look out for number one.” But in the kingdom of God, true greatness is found in serving others.

Illustration: Think about a winning sports team. The best teams aren’t the ones with a single superstar who hogs the spotlight. They’re the ones where every player is willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. That’s humility in action.

2. Gentleness (Meekness)

Meekness isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control. A gentle person doesn’t lash out or explode in anger. They respond with grace, even when provoked.

Proverbs 15:1 says: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

When we practice gentleness, we diffuse conflict instead of fueling it.

Illustration: Think about a powerful horse under the control of a skilled rider. The horse could easily throw the rider off, but instead it yields its strength to the one guiding it. That’s what meekness looks like—power surrendered to God.

3. Patience

Patience is long-suffering. It’s the willingness to endure people’s faults, to put up with difficulties, and to keep loving even when it’s hard.

Colossians 3:13 says: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Patience is essential because people will fail us. We will fail others. But if we want unity, we have to choose patience again and again.

4. Love (Unity Lived Out)

Paul says we are to bear with one another in love. Love is the glue that holds unity together. Without love, humility becomes prideful, gentleness becomes passive, and patience becomes resentment.

1 Corinthians 13:7 says: “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Unity is only possible when it is rooted in love.

What Unity Is (and Isn’t)

Unity is a gift from God. Ephesians 4:3 says: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Notice—unity is something the Spirit gives us, not something we manufacture. Our job is to maintain it.

But let’s be clear about what unity does not mean:

• Unity does not mean tolerating sin. We are called to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). True unity sometimes requires confronting sin and calling people back to God’s Word.
• Unity does not mean uniformity. We don’t all have to look alike, think alike, or act alike. God created us diverse on purpose. Our differences display His wisdom.
• Unity does not mean agreement on every secondary issue. Sometimes unity means agreeing to disagree on non-essential matters while staying united in the essentials of the faith.

The Body of Christ

Paul uses a powerful image in Ephesians 4—the church is the body of Christ.

• Jesus is the head.
• We are the body.
• Each of us is like a cell, a member, a part.

Just like a human body works together under the direction of the brain, the church works together under the direction of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12 says: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

When one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers. When one part rejoices, the whole body rejoices.

Illustration: If you stub your toe, your whole body reacts. You bend over, grab your foot, maybe even shout. The rest of your body doesn’t say, “That’s just the toe’s problem.” No—the whole body feels it. That’s how it should be in the church.

Equipped for Unity and Growth

Ephesians 4:11–12 says:

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”

Christ has given the church leaders—not to do all the ministry themselves, but to equip the whole church to minister.

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers—these roles are gifts. Their purpose is to build up the body so that every believer grows in maturity and reflects Christ.

This means you are not just a spectator in the church. You are a participant. You have a role to play. You are gifted by God for the building up of the body.

Growing Into Maturity

Paul describes the goal of this unity and equipping in verses 13–15:

• That we all reach unity in the faith.
• That we grow in the knowledge of the Son of God.
• That we become mature, attaining the fullness of Christ.

And how do we know we’re growing? Paul says we won’t be tossed around by every new teaching or human scheme. Instead, we will be grounded in truth and love.

Illustration: Think about a tree. A healthy tree grows tall and strong, but it also puts down deep roots. When storms come, the roots keep it steady. In the same way, when we grow in Christ, we become deeply rooted in Him. Storms may come, but we remain unshaken.

The Growth Factor: Love

Paul closes this section by saying that the whole body grows and builds itself up in love (v. 16).

Love is the growth factor of the church. Without love, unity can’t last. Without love, the church shrivels. But with love, the church thrives.

John 13:35 says: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The world won’t recognize us by our programs, our buildings, or our music styles. It will recognize us by our love.

Living Worthy of the Call

So let me bring this home. Paul says: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”

That means choosing unity over division. It means practicing humility, gentleness, patience, and love—over and over again, even when it’s not easy, even when it doesn’t make sense.

It means remembering that you are part of something bigger than yourself. You are part of the body of Christ, and your life affects the whole.

It means stepping into your calling—not just as a believer but as someone gifted and equipped to build up the church.

It means asking yourself daily: Does my life reflect the One I claim to follow?

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Reflection Questions

1. In what areas of your life do you struggle to “walk worthy” of your calling?
2. Which of the four attitudes (humility, gentleness, patience, love) do you most need to grow in right now?
3. How can you actively foster unity in your church or community this week?
4. Are you using your gifts to build up the body of Christ—or are you sitting on the sidelines?

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A Final Word of Challenge

Yes, you are called. You are called to live a life that reflects Jesus. You are called to foster unity in His body. You are called to use your gifts for the good of others.

The question is: Will you walk worthy of that calling?

Unity doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a choice we make every day. It’s choosing to love when it would be easier to ignore. It’s choosing to forgive when it would be easier to hold a grudge. It’s choosing to build up when it would be easier to tear down.

And here’s the good news—you don’t have to do it alone. The Spirit of God lives in you, empowering you to walk worthy. Christ Himself is the head, guiding and leading. The Father is over all, through all, and in all.

So today, make the choice: walk in a manner worthy of the call.