Worthy (worldly) - having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in a specified way.
Worthy (biblical) - having worth or value
Not sure why God gave me this word...... actually that's not true 🤦🏻♀️......
Merit or recognition? I'm pretty sure walking worthy doesn't involve our receiving accolades and pats on the back but isn't that exactly how we measure our worldly worth? And isn't that how we often measure our worth to God? 😫 I struggle with that word in the worldly and in God's eyes. But shouldn't my desire to walk worthy IN the world come from the natural outpouring of my desire to walk worthy in God's eyes?
What does God's Word have to say?
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
Ephesians 4:1
How do I do it?
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
Ephesians 4:2-3
"The idea is clear. We don’t walk worthy so that God will love us, but because He does love us. It is motivated out of gratitude, not out of a desire to earn merit." (EWC)
Ahhhhhhh....now that brings things into a better understanding. Only because God loves me can I, out of gratitude, extend that love to others.
Consider these verses:
"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory."
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
"All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering."
2 Thessalonians 1:5
"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith."
2 Thessalonians 1:11
John Piper says, "In all these passages, being worthy is expected and necessary in the Christian life."
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."
Philippians 1:27
So what does walking worthy look like and how do I do it?
"The word worthy has the idea of “matching up”: our actions should match our words, and our outward presentation should match our inward convictions. To “walk worthy” of our calling means to live up to that calling, to live in such a way as to honor God as we complete His course of action for us."
(Gotquestions.org)
Colossians says walking worthy is tied to four personal characteristics:
1. Being fruitful in all that you do
2. Continuously strive to gain the knowledge of God
3. Use God's power to endure and patiently persevere with joy
4. Be thankful for all He has done for us
1. Be fruitful.....
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
Apart from Jesus Christ I can do nothing. I cannot produce fruit if I have not first accepted Christ as my Savior. Only through him am I able.
2. Gain knowledge.....
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 3:18
What may start out as an intellectual journey will begin to change your heart in amazingly big ways. This is a daily walk.
3. Endure and persevere patiently with JOY.... 😳
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Romans 5:3-5
Really hard stuff. Who wants to suffer? Who wants to persevere through hardship? Who wants to build character through pain and suffering? BUT, does it do what it says it does? For me personally, I can answer yes. Suffering changed me and by God's grace, his love and his mercy I am still standing. He did not leave me, he did not forsake me...he wants to bless me and provide for me and shine his light into my darkest days.....and hopefully enable me to bear fruit. But I have to be very careful. The fruit may not look at all what I think it should look like. If fact, I may never actually SEE it.
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you WILL abound in every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8
ALL - God wastes NOTHING! Not a single joy....not a single hurt...
4. Be thankful....
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Colossians 1:9-12 really is our instruction on how to walk worthy.
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."
Colossians 1:9-12
God knew I needed to look at this word, WORTHY, today. I've been feeling anything but....but as I pour over his Word I realize that being worthy has less to do with what I'm DOING but where I'm looking!! Fruit can and will be plentiful when I increase my knowledge of who he is through sitting at his feet, reading his word, persevering through hardships and trial, having patient endurance (running the race of this life), being thankful for who he is AND realizing that he holds and protects my heart.
Walking worthy is an attitude of gratitude. Walking worthy is walking the walk not just talking the talk. Walking worthy is being mindful from whom the worthiness comes. Walking worthy is a gift from Almighty God who counts me worthy to receive his love.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
He asks for my best done with all my heart...not just good enough to please humans.. And my reward? My inheritance! Eternity with my Savior!!
What may start out as an intellectual journey will begin to change your heart in amazingly big ways. This is a daily walk.
3. Endure and persevere patiently with JOY.... 😳
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Romans 5:3-5
Really hard stuff. Who wants to suffer? Who wants to persevere through hardship? Who wants to build character through pain and suffering? BUT, does it do what it says it does? For me personally, I can answer yes. Suffering changed me and by God's grace, his love and his mercy I am still standing. He did not leave me, he did not forsake me...he wants to bless me and provide for me and shine his light into my darkest days.....and hopefully enable me to bear fruit. But I have to be very careful. The fruit may not look at all what I think it should look like. If fact, I may never actually SEE it.
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you WILL abound in every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8
ALL - God wastes NOTHING! Not a single joy....not a single hurt...
4. Be thankful....
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Colossians 1:9-12 really is our instruction on how to walk worthy.
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."
Colossians 1:9-12
God knew I needed to look at this word, WORTHY, today. I've been feeling anything but....but as I pour over his Word I realize that being worthy has less to do with what I'm DOING but where I'm looking!! Fruit can and will be plentiful when I increase my knowledge of who he is through sitting at his feet, reading his word, persevering through hardships and trial, having patient endurance (running the race of this life), being thankful for who he is AND realizing that he holds and protects my heart.
Walking worthy is an attitude of gratitude. Walking worthy is walking the walk not just talking the talk. Walking worthy is being mindful from whom the worthiness comes. Walking worthy is a gift from Almighty God who counts me worthy to receive his love.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
He asks for my best done with all my heart...not just good enough to please humans.. And my reward? My inheritance! Eternity with my Savior!!
No comments:
Post a Comment