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Worthy of calling.
TO WALK.
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With all lowliness, etc.
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Endeavouring to keep the unity, etc.
Let us consider this order. Is it possible to reverse it without involving ourselves in
trouble and disappointment? Let us see. Suppose we attempt to keep the unity of the
Spirit without the necessary humility, forbearance and longsuffering! The result will be a
repetition of sectarian harshness, the puffing up of some few stronger minds and the
crushing of the weak. How shall the graces of humility, meekness, forbearance and
longsuffering be encouraged? We are driven to the inspired order; these qualities will
thrive and grow as we seek to walk worthy of our calling. As we realized the marvelous
grace that has been manifested to ourselves, so we shall in our turn be the better able to
manifest that grace to others. We assume that all our readers know that the word
"vocation" of Eph. 4: 1 is simply the word "calling". The calling of believers during
the Acts differed in many essentials from that of the prison ministry of Paul. In one
sense, at least, it would be the same, and we may take to ourselves the words of
I Cor. 1: 26-29:--
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not
many mighty, not many noble, are called; But God hath chosen the foolish things of the
world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to
confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are
despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that
are; THAT NO FLESH GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE."
These words may well throw us back to Eph. 2: 11, 12, where we are urged to
remember:--
"That ye were Gentiles, without Christ, aliens, strangers, having no hope, and without
God in the word."
To remember this will certainly make humility of mind, forbearance, and
longsuffering, far more possible than if it is forgotten.
While a wholesome
"remembrance" has a gracious effect upon our walk, there is, from another aspect, are
equally important forgetfulness:--
"Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but his one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
according to a mark, I press toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus . . . . . let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing" (Phil. 3: 13-16).
So whether we look back to the pit from which we have been delivered, or look
onward to the glories that stretch out ahead, whether we "remember" in the one sense or
"forget" in the other, our walk must be the meeker, and the lowlier for it. Then think of
the humbling effect of such a passage as this:--
"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith
with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you"
(II Thess. 1: 11, 12).