“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Eph. 4:1).

Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus contains admonitions concerning their “walk.” The word “walk” is used in this book to refer to their manner of life and conduct, their daily activity and behavior. Jesus did not save us from sin so that we could go on sinning. We are not allowed to live like those who do not acknowledge God’s standards. We are expected to walk (live) in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Notice Paul’s continued admonition: “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ” (Eph. 4:17-20).

We cannot give ourselves over to conduct that includes lewdness, uncleanness, and greediness. We have learned the ways in which Christ wants us to live. We must walk in them. Our conduct must be worthy of His calling.

Paul goes on to give three specific instructions regarding our “walk” in chapter five.

Walk in love. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Eph. 5:2). To walk worthy of our calling we must walk in love, and Jesus is our perfect example of such a walk. His entire life was lived as a sacrifice for the benefit of others (Matt. 20:28). We walk in love towards God by keeping His commandments (1 John 5:3), and we walk in love towards others by serving them (1 John 3:17-18).

Walk in light. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). The contrast between darkness and light represents the difference between living in sin and ignorance (or defiance) of God’s standards and doing what is acceptable to the Lord (v. 10). When we walk in God’s path of goodness, righteousness, and truth (v. 9) we are walking in the light and thus will become a light to those around us.

Walk in wisdom. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” (Eph. 5:15). Other translations use the words “careful” and “carefully” in the place of “circumspectly,” but I like this word. When you think of the circumference of a circle, you get the idea of walking “circumspectly.” We must look all around us as we walk. Spiritual dangers abound and are not always easily seen. We cannot afford to take a careless step. The devil has buried a lot of spiritual landmines in this world.

Our walk (manner of life) is very important. It matters. It has an impact upon where we will spend eternity. Are we walking worthy of our Lord’s calling? Are we walking in love, in light, and in wisdom? Remember, having been saved by God’s grace, “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).