Resources: Ephesians 4:1-7, especially vs. 1: "I...beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called." The Apostle pleads with us to live in accordance with the Lord Jesus' invitation to follow Him. What Christian, worthy of the Name, would quarrel with the Master of lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering, Who bears with each of us in love (vs. 2)? Our Holy Faith is no mere set of ideals to approximate, nor philosophy or ethics. The Lord Jesus is the standard of the virtues He expects us to follow, and we answer to Him for our attitudes and acts.
In 'beseeching' us to walk worthy of the Lord, St. Paul knew both the nature of the struggle that makes doing the Faith difficult, and the resources that God has provided for overcoming those difficulties. Let us examine what the Lord's Apostle teaches concerning the difficulties of the life in Christ and the resources which God provides for succeeding in it.
In begging us to manifest the virtues of Christian faith, St, Paul speaks from personal experience. He became an Apostle because the Lord spoke to his heart and awakened the desire to "walk worthy" of His call (Acts 9:5,6). At the same time, St. Paul knew the frustration of desiring a truly pure life and of yet doing the exact opposite. He hated the weak vacillating in himself (Rom. 7:15). He called it, "the flesh," and he observed that "those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh" (Rom. 8:5).
Yes, Beloved of the Lord, how the flesh preoccupies our minds, distracts and lures us away from being virtuous! As soon as we resolve to be lowly and gentle, someone may say an unkind word, treat us rudely, or fail to do what we want. Immediately we think, "How dare he speak to me that way?" and our ego rises up gruff and abrasive. Then we snap back or abuse the next person we meet. Yes, we are soul-sick, inclining to the opposite of our heart's desire.
Let us not despair! The Lord Jesus came as the true Physician. He calls us to Himself as He did Lazarus from the tomb, to "come forth!" that He may heal us (Jn. 11:43). In our own power we are in a terrible, nearly helpless, state, except for a divine resource which is ours: "...to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Eph. 4:7). The great Physician Himself measures out the exact healing dosage of grace that each one of us needs.
What is this healing prescription we have from the Lord? He prescribes Himself. He is the medicine of eternity, the healing balm found only in the Kingdom of God. The Savior of the world is the resource that enables each person to purify himself from preoccupation with the flesh. He makes it possible for us to make an entirely new response in all lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering. As the medicine of eternity, He must be received at the first hint that the old sickness threatens to return and overwhelm us. He must be received regularly and for life!
Another difficulty in maintaining a walk worthy of the Lord is in manifesting "unity of the Spirit"(vs. 3) among our fellow Christians. Again, we have good intentions, but how often we quarrel, pull back from one another, and break the "bond of peace" (vs. 3)! Again, however, the Apostle calls to us: "endeavor" to keep the unity of the Spirit (vs. 3). Remember, "There is one body and one Spirit...one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is...through all and in you all" (vss. 4-6). Let us not exacerbate our differences: male and female, rich and poor, young and old, born Orthodox and convert, highly and less educated. The truth is we all have received the same Baptism and Chrismation. We all partake of the same Holy Gifts. Let us use the resources of the Holy Spirit of God - repentance, forgiveness, and kindness to one another. By submitting to God the Holy Spirit we can preserve the blessed unity of His grace.
Let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life to Thee, O Christ our God!