Wednesday, Mar 20 | Ephesians 4:1-10 | Mary Splawn
Sometimes when we read Scripture it is good to just notice what we notice. We can do this by asking the text some questions like: What words and ideas stick out? Are there repeated themes? Does something in the passage remind me of a current situation?
When I have time to contemplate Scripture, I like to do it with a pen in hand, circling words that stand out and underlining groups of words or verses that resonate with me. The first word I circled in this passage was “urge.”
When we urge someone, it is typically because their natural tendency is to do something else. For example, I urge my children often to say “yes ma’am” because their first inclination is to say “yeah.” Paul urges Christians to walk in a manner worthy of their calling because the tendency is to revert to a manner that isn’t worthy of the name CHRISTian.
So what is worthy living? Paul gives us some ideas in verses two and three. Here they are in adjective form: humble, gentle, patient, supportive, unifiable.
In this passage, I also circled one word a lot because it was repeated eight times. You guessed it: it’s the word “one.” What do you think Paul is trying to imply by repeating this word? Through repetition, Paul reminds us that oneness is the goal of the church. We are to strive to be a unified force for bringing the gospel news to the world. And, we do this because we share “one” hope. This hope is defined in the first question and answer of the New City Catechism, a great teaching tool for faith. It reads, “Question: What is our only hope in life and death? Answer: That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ!
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