Daily Devotions

Ephesians

Ephesians 
Day 
Day 199

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling."

Text: Ephesians 4:4

A GREAT CALLING FROM GOD

We have a great calling from God. Paul highlighted this high calling from God in the following texts.

1. God’s calling is described as “hope” (elpidos”)

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
EPHESIANS 1:18

2. Challenge to walk worthy of God’s calling

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you to walk worthy of the calling
with which you were called…
EPHESIANS 4:1

3. All believers share in that one hope of God’s calling

There is one body and one Spirit,
just as you were called in one hope of your calling.
EPHESIANS 4:4

SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR CALLING BEING DESCRIBED AS “HOPE”

There are a number of reasons why our calling is called “hope”. Two may be highlighted:-

1. The Contents of our Hope

Part of the contents of our Hope in Christ has a future element. However, there is no reason to fear that the future will not be realized, simply because of the fact that the Spirit of God is our Seal and our Guarantee (Cf. Ephesians 1:13-14).

a) Our redemption in Christ will only be fully completed when we reach heaven, or when the Lord returns to earth.
b) God will one day gather all who belong to Him (Cf. Ephesians 1:10), but that event is yet future.

2. Hope can inspire great faith in God

Paul says it eloquently in the following text.

Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace
in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God…
Now hope does not disappoint…
ROMANS 5:2,5A