In professional sports there is a term busts.  It refers to those who have great talent but never seem to live up to their talent.  Sometimes it’s a lack of hard work, other times they just can’t seem to put all that talent together when it counts.  Some collapse under the pressure of expectations.  Whatever the reason they just don’t utilize their gifts the way others expected.  I wonder sometimes if we can be spiritual busts at times.  Not living up to the gifts and calling that God has on our lives.  Paul talks a little bit about this in Ephesians 4.  Let’s look at it together today.

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. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul urges us to live a life worthy of our calling.  We all have been given spiritual gifts from God.  We all have a calling to use those gifts to share the love of Christ and build up His church.  When we do that well the church thrives and people are drawn to Jesus.  Other times we get caught up in the busyness of life and neglect our gifts and calling.  Paul also calls us to unity in this passage and reminds us that we are all serving under one faith, one spirit, one God, one Baptism.  A team that is unified with one goal, using their gifts and talent is tough to beat.  I pray that we might all be a team like that.  Working together to share the love of Christ with a world that needs Him. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave