“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ephesians 4:1).

As Christians, we are called “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9). Our calling is identified as “the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1), and high, in the sense of majestic (Philippians 3:14), and we are told that the called (Romans 1:6) are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). But we also are told to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (II Peter 1:10). There is much in Scripture about our calling, and although the calling is God’s work and prerogative, we are expected to add to (our) faith “virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (II Peter 1:5–7).

We are “called to be saints” (Romans 1:7). That is, the purpose for which we have been called or invited by God to become one of His chosen, is to be holy! Everything in our lifestyle should center around the fact that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

Other aspects of our calling are the results of that holy character, which should be the ever-controlling dominant factor in our lives.

The specifically cited traits in this context are attitudes of lowliness (see Philippians 2:1–3) and meekness (see Colossians 3:12–17), all the while “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3). A summary of this calling is found in Paul’s closing comment to the Corinthian church: “Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (II Corinthians 13:11). HMM III