I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Ephesians 4:1
Why do people get fired from their jobs? Some of the big reasons are stealing from the employer, poor work performance, lack of team spirit, and goofing off on company time. But there is one fault that employers despise and will quickly dismiss an employee for: behaviour that is inconsistent with the company’s image. Dress codes exist for a reason, and people who constantly flaunt them can expect at least a reprimand. The same goes for people who use disrespectful, abusive, or profane language. There is a standard to which most employers hold their workers, and sometimes the standard is high. There is certainly a high standard for the vocation to which God has called us.
How much did you deserve for God to call you? If you are honest, you will admit that your calling was not based on merit. ‘By grace ye are saved’ (Ephesians 2:8). So if your calling was based on grace, your walking in the vocation wherein ye are called should also be based on grace. God was gracious to save you; you should be gracious in your living for Him. This means not only relying on the grace of God to sustain your Christian testimony, but also showing grace to others as you walk for your Lord.
The word ‘worthy’ is the same as the word ‘becometh’ found in Philippians 1:27: ‘Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ’. The Gospel is based on the grace of God. And it is inconsistent with the Gospel that those who would represent or preach it do so in an ungracious manner. That is why, for example, that we don’t argue with people when we seek to witness to them. The Lord Jesus never forced people to come to Him; they flocked to hear Him because of ‘the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth’ (Luke 4:22).
The word ‘vocation’ as used in our text refers to that which you participate in. In normal use, we define a vocation as the career choice or profession. In reality, it applies to every aspect of our lives. From the time your eyes open in the morning until they close at night, from the places you go throughout your day and week to the people you contact though visits, work, telephone, social media, or bumping into them, from your plans for the next meal to your dreams for the future, all are included in your vocation. And all are to be subjected to the litmus test of grace.
God has called us to the greatest of all possible vocations: displaying His grace. Let our walk be worthy. – Jim MacIntosh