The few, the humble, the worthy.

I'm sure you have seen the commercials for the Marines. "The few, the proud, the Marines." Then they show a picture of a Marine proudly wearing the uniform. The deal is, not everyone makes it through basic training. So, only those worthy of wearing the uniform earn the right to wear it. The same goes for us as Christians. We have received a certain calling and we should live a life that demonstrates that calling. 

"As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 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." Ephesians 4:1-3  

The Apostle Paul lays it out and urges us to live in such a way that reflects that fact that we belong to Jesus. First of all, for Paul there was no imagined Sunday Christian lifestyle and a Monday through Saturday in the "real world" lifestyle. Who you are in Christ is who you are 24/7, 365 days a year. Being humble and gentle does not mean being passive and weak. Moses wrote that he was a "very  humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:2-4). Moses knew who he was in God's eyes. Do you know who you are in God's eyes? That's the point here. You ARE a child of God. Act like it.

Here are the can do's: 1)You can be humble and gentle. Being humble centers on you and I realizing we our sinners saved by grace. Paul called himself the chief of sinners. 2) You can be patient. W-A-I-T. Wait on the Lord. Allow God time to do things in his timing, his way. If you have an issue with that, take it up with God. 3)You can bear with one another in love. Again, God is bearing with me, how dare I not bear with you. 4) You can do whatever you need to do to keep the peace. Folks, in marriage this can be the toughest task. Sometimes love confronts. Just don't put someone in a corner, because they will fight their way out. Always gracefully allow a way out. Always look to restore closeness and build peace. 

Father, thank you that you have called us to don the Spiritual uniform of Christ. Help us to love with humility because you first loved us. Praise be to you in us today!