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

The more I read Paul, the more I'm convicted of my Disney princess worldview. You know the one: you can do anything you want to do, be anyone you want to be, and go anywhere you want to go! The world is your oyster, and when the villains of your story stand in your way, you can overcome by looking deep inside yourself. And while this makes for a fun, feel-good story, it makes for a terrible identity. It's Manifest Destiny and American Individualism wrapped up in a cute, commercialized package, and I fear this creeps into our faith more than we'd like to admit.

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When Paul preaches, he talks about individuality, but only how it leads to unity. He speaks of spiritual giftings, but with particular emphasis on how they build up the body. And he speaks to the calling we have received, not that it might glorify us, but because of the impact on the world we live in. I can understand my identity in Christ, but unless I also consider the richer depths of who I am in the context of community, I'm missing Paul's message.

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Ephesians starts with who we are in light of who God is, and now, Paul pivots from who we are to how we live as a result. He says, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Eph. 4:1).

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I'll be honest, this verse has always haunted my heart a bit. What does it mean to live a "worthy" life? Could this mean that I'm living a life that isn't worthy of the calling I've received from God?

In the last three chapters of Ephesians, Paul answers that question by helping us visualize and practice a life that actually fits with the identity we have been given in Jesus. And based on how he introduces it, it seems this life hinges not just on MY identity, but on unity in OUR identity.

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The Message translation says it this way: "In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness" (Eph. 4:1-6).

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Is everything you are (identity) and think (thought life) and do (actions) permeated with Oneness? I'll confess, I think my identity, thought life, and actions are often permeated with individualistic self-interest. What do they think of me? What's my opinion? What do I want to do?

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These are not the building blocks of a worthy life - a life permeated with Oneness. They don't lead to unity; they lead to division and the very things Paul is going to help us navigate in the next three chapters. According to Paul, a life worthy of the calling we have received is a life that pursues unity.

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So how do you see unity being strengthened in your life today? Is it permeating every dark corner? Praise God today for the areas in your life that he's taking ground by building unity! Maybe gathering with a life group each week, giving sacrificially, or serving regularly with a serve team is building unity in you as you trust others with your heart and give of your time and resources to a mission outside of yourself. What area of your life might God be wanting to grow unity in new ways today?

Father God, thank you for teaching me how to live a life worthy of your call. I confess that my natural bent is often toward self-preservation rather than unity. Show me where you want to grow unity in my heart today, both with you and with those around me in family, church, and community. I trust you with this. Amen!