< Back

 

Read: Ephesians 4:1-3
Listen: Ephesians 4

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1

The gospel has spread quickly despite persecution and reached the city of Ephesus. Ephesus is a large, influential port city known for commerce and idol worship, especially devoted to the Greek goddess Artemis. Paul helped establish the church there during an earlier missionary journey. Now, he writes from a prison in Rome. Paul’s purpose is clear: to strengthen and encourage believers. Before telling them how to live in a culture opposed to Jesus, Paul first grounds them in their identity in Christ. The gospel reshapes who they are and how they behave, including how they handle relationships.

This same tension exists for us today. Our sense of self is constantly challenged by the loud messages of our culture. Things like our physical appearance, financial success, marital status, and sexuality seem to be subject to cultural voices and social media approval. These voices compete with what God says is true about us. When we allow culture to define us, our relationship with God and others begins to shift. But when our identity is rooted in Christ, we can experience clarity, humility and unity in how we live and love. Throughout this series, we will return to this truth again and again: belief before behavior. Who we are in Jesus is the groundwork that shapes how we show up in every relationship—at home, in the church and in the world.

TODAY: Set aside twenty minutes to read or listen to the book of Ephesians. Notice who Paul says we are in Christ in chapters 1-3, and how that identity shapes the way we live and treat others in chapters 4-6.