“A manner worthy of the calling …”
“I call you my brothers, and count it my privilege and joy to serve with you. And to you and this common cause in which we stand I give my life. I will go anywhere with you, and face anything, to the end of finishing the mission we’ve been given—faithfully, fully, courageously, and honorably, so help me God.”
As I listened to these words—from my Platoon Sergeant to her soldiers—I longed for them to be the words and the heart found in our churches. Alas, that it’s so rare.
Let’s commit ourselves altogether again to “walk in a manner worthy of [fitting, proper, of comparable value to] the calling” to which we’ve been called (Ephesians 4.1).
“The culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4.7-11, NET).
October 12th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Wow! Great post, Spencer. What a call to committed action.
October 12th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Great to see you back in the pulpit yesterday Spencer!
October 13th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Thanks, men! Great to be back, Stephen!
September 30th, 2011 at 11:21 am
Excellent post. So much of modern Christianity is trying to make people happy when God wants to make them holy. We are called to love people with the very same love with which Jesus loved us. That is, He laid down His life for us. We are called to lay down our lives in service to Him.