Word@Work Eph38 - Ephesians 4:1-2
Published: Tue, 11/18/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
RIGHTS ISSUE
Ephesians 4:1-2 As a prisoner for 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. (NIV)
Prison is not an ideal setting for an author, but it certainly concentrated Paul's mind on His book. He was writing about the cause of His imprisonment - his love and service of the gospel of Christ. It certainly got him into trouble but he was able to write from the experience of knowing that the violence and intimidation of the world could never stop the gospel. Likewise, his gentleness and humility were more powerful than military forces in turning people from idols to serve the true and living God (cf 1 Thess 1:9).
So Paul urged his readers not to retaliate against their persecutors with the same aggression (cf John 18:36). Neither should they use the same tactics in internal power struggles within the fellowship. In Jesus' kingdom, the power comes from love; and 'love' is a word that describes sacrificial self-giving to meet the needs of another. It is easy to talk 'love' or to imagine the pleasure of being loved, but that is not real love. We are called to receive God's love (sacrificially paid for) and then to dispense that love sacrificially: that is our calling.
It is not easy to choose to serve others at work, especially if you work in a place where dog eats dog. But humble and joyful service is the Jesus' way. Other Christians can be more of a hindrance than a help at times, but the humble spirit will crack nuts that dent sledgehammers. However much you may wish you were elsewhere, rejoice that you are where God wants to use you. Your experience may never rival that of the persecuted church, those victimised for their faith or believers who are the continual butt of their family's malicious humour - but those who stand up best for Christ are those who lay down their rights as they serve others. So perhaps it might help to rethink your personal human relations policy ... for His sake.
Prayer: Gracious God. As You have given up so much for me, may I have the courage to lay down my rights in order that my colleagues may see that You alone are always in the right. I know I can trust You to protect me, even when it gets tough. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
Prison is not an ideal setting for an author, but it certainly concentrated Paul's mind on His book. He was writing about the cause of His imprisonment - his love and service of the gospel of Christ. It certainly got him into trouble but he was able to write from the experience of knowing that the violence and intimidation of the world could never stop the gospel. Likewise, his gentleness and humility were more powerful than military forces in turning people from idols to serve the true and living God (cf 1 Thess 1:9).
So Paul urged his readers not to retaliate against their persecutors with the same aggression (cf John 18:36). Neither should they use the same tactics in internal power struggles within the fellowship. In Jesus' kingdom, the power comes from love; and 'love' is a word that describes sacrificial self-giving to meet the needs of another. It is easy to talk 'love' or to imagine the pleasure of being loved, but that is not real love. We are called to receive God's love (sacrificially paid for) and then to dispense that love sacrificially: that is our calling.
It is not easy to choose to serve others at work, especially if you work in a place where dog eats dog. But humble and joyful service is the Jesus' way. Other Christians can be more of a hindrance than a help at times, but the humble spirit will crack nuts that dent sledgehammers. However much you may wish you were elsewhere, rejoice that you are where God wants to use you. Your experience may never rival that of the persecuted church, those victimised for their faith or believers who are the continual butt of their family's malicious humour - but those who stand up best for Christ are those who lay down their rights as they serve others. So perhaps it might help to rethink your personal human relations policy ... for His sake.
Prayer: Gracious God. As You have given up so much for me, may I have the courage to lay down my rights in order that my colleagues may see that You alone are always in the right. I know I can trust You to protect me, even when it gets tough. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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