Devotional - June 15, 2022
Ephesians 4: 1-3 - 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
One can hardly say Paul was writing off the cuff in today's text. He wrote today's text while being imprisoned in Rome around 62 AD. Roman imprisonment was a horrible ordeal indeed. Before being imprisoned, prisoners were stripped, flogged and shackled in iron restraints which would remain fixed their entire term of imprisonment. You may recall Paul asking for his cloak at one point while imprisoned (1 Tim 4:13) due to the lack of clothing or bedding they received. Food was not provided on a regular basis either which is why Jesus commends his followers for visiting the imprisoned (Mt 25:36). It was during these visits they brought food and other supplies. Remember, prisons were not meant for incarceration, they were holding tanks for those awaiting trial and execution. If the imprisoned died before their trial, so be it. If they could bribe their way out before their trial, so be it. The prisons were underground, lighting was poor at best, unless they could find an opening. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. So, when Paul asks those reading his letter to walk worthy of their callings, as he was, it gets their attention. It should also get ours. Paul would utilize these times, as abhorrent as they were, to share the Gospel (Acts 16: 16-40). Thankfully, his final placement was a bit better than the others (Acts 28: 16-30). Paul used his situation to encourage Christians who were also dealing with persecution to hold fast to their calling (Heb 12: 3-4). And yes, as Christians we all have a calling, a vocation to fulfill. I used the NIV Bible for today's Scripture because in verse two, I liked how it expressed the word bearing (or forbearance), our word for today. Forbearing any situation is trying at best. Especially, when it tests your last nerve. Often, we grit our teeth and tough it out as best we can using our own strength. We also try to use techniques we've learned to deal with difficult situations. All of which are good. But never forget, God calls out to us during difficult times reminding us that we are not alone (John 16:33). God will assist us and be with us throughout the ordeal (Hebrews 13: 5-6 and Deut 31: 6-8). As believers, we need to remember God is there regardless of our situation; even when we may have been part of the problem. Our reactions to the situation is where the problems can arise. We can be our own worst enemy. Not to mention, even our best intentions can run contrary to God's will. Take a moment and look at the progression Paul uses in verse two. Hear him as he tries to coach us from his own experience in the matter (2 Cor 11:25). Initially, he calls for us to be completely humble. Being humble and being a doormat are two completely different things. God does not call us to be doormats. It simply means to have a clear understanding of ourselves and the situation; nothing more, nothing less. The pinnacle being, when your humbleness turns into a state of poise. Not relying on your own strength entirely, but in knowing God is faithful and present (Proverbs 3:26, Nehemiah 8:10, Joshua 1:6). Second, he calls us to be gentle while dealing with difficult situations. Going hard at someone, especially in today's society, can get you in trouble fast. It could even get you severely injured or killed. Even if you back the person down, what comes later could be problematic. Tensions can be lessened if one party shows they pose no threat, but instead show they are in control of themselves while being understanding of others. Tall order, I know, especially during difficult times, but keep it as a goal. No one does it perfectly, but a quick prayer, "help me God" is always good thinking. Paul goes on by calling us to be patient, easy to say, hard to do. Books have been written on the subject, and after reading them, you're still left wondering what to do. But, one ditty I can recall says, Rome was not built in a day. In a society which demands everything right now, we have to push ourselves to remember, some things take time to resolve (Matt 6:34). And finally, Paul encourages us to bear with one another in love. Now remember, this is not coming from someone who sees the world through rose colored glasses, he has been through the mill several times. He knows life is a struggle for everyone and some have it worse, and in some cases much worse, than others. The key is remembering that the person or situation we are dealing with is not perfect and it will not likely be resolved in a nice, neat, efficient way. Hopefully we can work through, forbearing the situation from a position of strength and poise. The good news is, you are not alone. The Spirit of the Living God is walking with you, indwelling you, every step of the way.
Pray with me..., Holy God, at times we feel alone, bearing the brunt of the world by ourselves. Others may try to help, but can't, and our strength is not enough. Keep us mindful, You are there. You will give us the strength to deal with the situation. Help us to stay in step with You and not yield to our frustrations. Be with our loved ones, Lord, bless them in accordance with their needs. And bless our church that we may be the blessing you call us to be. In Jesus name, Amen
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
