I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV).
The Apostle Paul comes to this part of his letter to the churches of Asia Minor and simply says, “… walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which to have been called” (v. 1). He does go on to describe what this “walk” should look like; and, he says all of it should be “to maintain unity in the bond of peace” (v. 3).
Over the last decade our world can be described as anything but peaceful, though some have been desperate in their search of peace. World War I was called “the war to end all wars,” but soon a second, bigger World War followed. In the 1960s flower children stuffed carnations into soldiers’ gun barrels while protesting “peace, peace.” In the 1970s youth gave up their militancy and sought peace in inner feelings. In the 1980s and ’90s the cry was “peace through prosperity.” Yuppies chased after peace by accumulating wealth and pursuing upward mobility. But now in the 21st century most people simply do not know where to look to find the peace they crave.
The key is in “the calling to which we have been called.” We can only achieve peace individually or communally when the Holy Spirit dwells within us. I know that is an elusive goal for many. However, in this pursuit the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to injustice calling us to work against the common practice of division. Just as fallen humans wage war with all of their ability and tenacity, Christians ought to wage peace with similar vigor and strategy. When we live in the Spirit, we maintain our unity in Christ through the bond of peace that he bought for us. Is there ever a valid reason for the rhetoric we so often witness from the polarizing behavior of so many people in our world today? Is that walking worthy of the calling to which we have been called? Take care to practice peace to all and walk worthy of the name by which we are known.