Living in Light of God’s Calling
There’s a moment in Saving Private Ryan that stays with you. An old man, wrinkled with age, kneels before a white cross in the Normandy cemetery. Tears fill his eyes as he whispers to his wife, “Tell me I’m a good man.” His whole life, he has wrestled with one question: Was I worthy of the sacrifice made for me?
We all feel this weight in some way—the desire to prove ourselves, to be enough, to live up to something greater.
Paul, writing from a prison cell, issues a profound challenge:
“I urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)
At first glance, this sounds like Captain Miller’s dying words to Private Ryan: “Earn this.” But that is not what Paul is saying.
Not Earn This—Receive This
If we misunderstand Paul’s words, we’ll spend our lives striving, constantly wondering if we measure up. But the gospel tells a radically different story.
Paul doesn’t say, “Walk worthy so that God will call you.” He says, “Walk worthy of the calling you have already received.”
Your calling isn’t something you achieve—it’s something you’ve been given.
Before Paul tells us how to live, he spends three chapters reminding us of who we are:
• You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing.
• You were chosen before the foundation of the world.
• You were adopted as God’s child, not because you earned it, but because it pleased Him to do so.
• You were dead, but God made you alive in Christ.
This is not a demand to earn God’s love—it’s an invitation to live in the beauty of what He’s already done.
What Does Walking Worthy Look Like?
Paul calls us to live in a way that reflects the weight of God’s worth and glory. It’s not about balancing the scales, as if we need to repay Christ for His sacrifice. It’s about letting the reality of His grace shape how we live.
So what does that look like? Paul gives us five characteristics of a life shaped by the gospel:
1. Humility – True humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. Jesus, who had every right to demand honor, humbled Himself and became a servant. If the King of the universe knelt to wash feet, how much more should we?
2. Gentleness – This isn’t weakness; it’s strength under control. The God who could have crushed us in righteous judgment instead poured out mercy. We reflect His gentleness when we respond to others with patience, not power.
3. Patience – God has been patient with us—again and again. His kindness leads us to repentance. When we are slow to anger and quick to listen, we display His heart.
4. Bearing with One Another in Love – The church is made up of imperfect people. We will disappoint each other. We will sin against each other. Walking worthy means loving each other through it, choosing forgiveness over division.
5. Eager to Maintain Unity – Notice Paul doesn’t say “create unity.” He says “maintain it.” The Spirit has already united us in Christ. Our job is to protect that unity—not let pride, bitterness, or secondary disagreements tear it apart.
Why Does This Matter?
Because our unity is a reflection of God Himself.
Paul repeats the word “one” seven times in verses 4-6:
• One body
• One Spirit
• One hope
• One Lord
• One faith
• One baptism
• One God and Father of all
The church is a living testimony to the oneness of God. The Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—exists in perfect unity, and we are called to reflect that same unity in our relationships.
How Do We Walk Worthy This Week?
• Stop striving to earn what has already been given. Rest in the reality that God has already called and secured you in Christ.
• Ask God where you need to grow in humility, gentleness, or patience. Is there someone you need to forgive? Someone you need to love better?
• Fight for unity. The world is divided, but the church is called to be one. Where can you be a peacemaker this week?
Jesus’ final words on the cross weren’t “Earn this.” They were “It is finished.”
So let’s not live in desperate striving. Let’s live in grateful joy.