I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ... Ephesians 4:1-3, NRSV

Now that the Lord is come, how do we carry forward into the days of this new year the good news of Christ's advent?

Perhaps sharing our faith in daily life is neither as complicated nor as difficult as shy, hesitant and halting Lutherans are apt to assume. Maybe bearing witness to Christ our Savior is simply a matter of being who we are Ð baptized people of God. Possibly, taking the Word become flesh into the daily rounds of 2005 is a matter of leading"a life worthy of the calling to which (we) have been called."

An Amish school verse says:
   I must be a Christian child
   Gentle, patient, meek and mild;
   Must be honest, simple, true
   In my words and actions too...
   Must remember, God can view
   All I think, and all I do.

In an age that is burned by duplicity and longs for credibility, it's likely that children of God can bear compelling testimony by being"gentle, patient, meek and mild." In a time of spin, hypocrisy, lying, deception and deceit, effective ministry can be rendered in daily like when God's people are"honest, simple and true" in their words and deeds.

Remembering God's watch over our thoughts, words and deeds, let us seek faithful, integrated lives of lowliness, meekness, patience, forbearance and peace-keeping, that we may bear witness to Christ on the road, at home, and in neighborhood, school, office, shop and store.

In this new year, O Lord, help us lead lives worthy of the calling to which we have been called. Grant us qualities that befit the baptized, namely, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance and peacemaking, that we may testify in authenticity and trustworthiness to your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Contributed by Michael S.
Published Sunday January 2, 2005
Week 6 of Liturgical Year A