Introduction: The "Therefore" of Our Walk
My beloved brethren, this very morning, as the sun rises over our city, we open the Word of God to a pivotal moment. For three magnificent chapters, the Apostle Paul has been a master architect, laying a deep and unshakable foundation of doctrine. He has told us who we are in Christ: chosen, forgiven, adopted, sealed, and seated with Him in heavenly places. He has built for us a cathedral of truth, revealing the glorious riches of our salvation.
But a foundation, no matter how deep, is meant to support a building. Doctrine is meant to produce duty. And so, in chapter four, Paul places a hinge on which the entire letter turns. He begins with that mighty word: "Therefore."
After all that God is for you, after all that Christ has done for you, after all the Holy Spirit has sealed in you... therefore. This is the pivot from our creed to our conduct, from our position to our practice. Paul will now show us what it looks like to live inside the glorious cathedral of truth he has just built. His first instruction is not about grand miracles or heroic feats, but about the very essence of our life together: our walk.
1. The Foundation of Our Walk: Our Calling (v. 1)
Before Paul tells us how we ought to walk, he reminds us of the ground upon which we stand.
A. A Plea from a Prisoner
First, hear the heart of the man who writes these words: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you..." He does not command as a king from a throne, but pleads as a brother from a prison cell. His authority comes not from earthly power, but from his sacred suffering for the sake of the Gospel. These are not the words of a man demanding something he is unwilling to give; these are the words of a man in chains, begging a free people to live lives worthy of the One who set them free. This tender plea should pierce our hearts and command our full attention.
B. A Walk Worthy of the Call
And what is his plea? "...that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."
The "vocation" he speaks of is your divine calling. It is far more than your job or your station in life. It is the holy summons from the King of the Universe who called you out of the kingdom of darkness and into the family of light. You are called to be a saint, an heir of God, a member of the very body of Christ! This is the highest honour a human being can receive.
Therefore, we are to "walk worthy." Imagine a balancing scale from the market. On one side, place the immeasurable weight of God’s grace: His forgiveness, His mercy, His eternal promises. Now, Paul says, let the manner of your daily life—your walk—be placed on the other side. Do the scales balance? Does your conduct reflect the priceless value of your calling? A worthy walk is a life that makes the Gospel look as beautiful and valuable as it truly is.
2. The Character of Our Walk: The Graces of Humility (v. 2)
So what does this worthy walk look like step-by-step? Paul shows us that it is paved not with stones of ambition, but with the soft graces of humility. He says this walk must be done...
"With all lowliness..." This is a profound humility of mind. In the eyes of the world, lowliness is a weakness. The world tells us to assert ourselves, to promote ourselves, to protect our "pride" and "save face" at all costs. But the Gospel tells us the way up is the way down. Lowliness is seeing ourselves as God sees us: creatures of dust, sinners saved by an astonishing grace. It is the heart that says, "I have no right to demand anything. All that I have is a gift." This grace is the death of arrogance and the birth of true community.
"...and meekness..." Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under God's perfect control. Think of a powerful jeepney, its engine roaring with potential. In the hands of a reckless driver, that power is dangerous. But in the hands of a skilled and gentle driver, that power brings people safely to their destination. Meekness is the grace that bridles the power of our tongue, our temper, and our talents, and submits them to the purposes of God. It is the quiet strength that does not need to shout to be heard or to push to get its way.
"...with longsuffering..." This literally means to be "long-tempered." It is the spiritual capacity to endure. In a city of long queues and frustrating traffic, we are given daily opportunities to practice this grace. Longsuffering is the ability to absorb the slights, the insults, the annoyances, and the imperfections of others without exploding in anger or retaliating in bitterness. It is the divine shock absorber that God gives His children for the bumpy road of life together.
"...forbearing one another in love." This is where these graces become action. "Forbearing" means to patiently put up with one another. Let us be honest: we are not always easy to love. We have quirks, faults, and rough edges. Forbearance is the commitment to stick with your brothers and sisters anyway. And it is impossible to do this through sheer willpower. The power source is given in the final two words: "in love." It is the agape love of Christ that empowers us to overlook an offense and embrace an imperfect brother or sister.
3. The Goal of Our Walk: The Unity of the Spirit (v. 3)
These humble, personal graces have a grand, corporate purpose. They are the essential ingredients for achieving the goal Paul now lays before us.
A. The Diligent Effort Required
We are to be "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit..."
"Endeavouring" is a word of intense effort. It means to be diligent, to be zealous, to strive with all your might. This tells us that unity is not automatic. Unity is not a feeling; it is a fight. It requires our constant, vigilant effort. It is the spiritual version of bayanihan, where everyone must work together to achieve the goal. We must actively fight against the enemies of unity: gossip (chismis), slander, envy, selfish ambition, and that destructive "crab mentality" that seeks to pull others down.
"to keep": And what are we fighting for? Notice, we are not told to create unity. The Holy Spirit already did that at the cross. When He saved us, He made us one body in Christ. Our job is not to build it, but to "keep" it—to guard it, to preserve it, to protect it. The church's unity is like a priceless, fragile vase given into our care. Our job is to handle it with the utmost gentleness and diligence, lest our pride and sin cause it to shatter.
B. The Atmosphere We Must Maintain
We guard this treasure "...in the bond of peace." Peace is the spiritual glue, the holy bigkis that binds our hearts together. Peace is the atmosphere in which the Spirit's unity can thrive. A heart at peace with God will seek to be at peace with men. Every act of forgiveness, every gentle word, every patient response strengthens this bond. Every harsh word, every bitter grudge, every whispered rumour acts like a solvent, dissolving the very bond that holds us together.
Conclusion: A Guardian of Unity
The call today is clear. Our glorious vocation in Christ demands a worthy walk. That walk is not a path of worldly success, but a path of deep humility, paved with lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and love. And the great purpose of this walk is that we would become diligent guardians of the precious unity the Holy Spirit has gifted to His church, maintaining it always in the bond of peace.
The question, then, is not "Is the church unified?" but rather, "Am I a force for that unity?" Are your words, your actions, and your attitudes building up the bond of peace, or are they tearing it down? Are you a minister of reconciliation, or an agent of division?
This week, I challenge you to make this practical. Think of one relationship in this church that is strained. Now, ask the Holy Spirit: "Which of these graces—lowliness, meekness, or longsuffering—do I need to apply to this relationship?" Then, take one small, deliberate step to be a peacemaker. Let us be a church known not for our programmes or our building, but for the supernatural love and unity that can only come from a people walking worthy of their calling.
