Beginning to Understand the Worthy Walk

So, what is this blog all about?  This will be where I'll share, for what their worth, the ponderables God lays on my heart as His Spirit leads me on this earthly journey.  All this stems from the past few years in which God began drawing my heart to His and placing deep within me a burden for knowing Him, loving Him, and proclaiming His Word.  Ultimately, am I walking worthy?

In Jesus own words, even our human family cannot come between us and Him.  We must surrender to the cross - giving up the pursuit of worldly praise, worldly pleasures, etc.  We must find our freedom - our very life - in following Him alone.

“37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." ‎(Matt 10:37-39, ESV)

In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he has given thanks for the Thessalonians and is in the midst of reminding them of his love and labor for them as a father when he reminds them here of the charge given to them to walk worthy!  "...we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory." (1Thessalonians 2:12)

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes: "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called," (Eph 4:1)

Writing this letter to the Ephesians from a prison cell - likely in Rome, he has just concluded a powerful, majestic prayer.  "14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ‎20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  (Eph 3:14-21)

The supplication he makes to God is for them to be given inner strength/power through the Spirit and that Christ may dwell/abide (make permanent residence) in their hearts through faith (firmly rooted and established in love) ... for what reason?   Why does Paul emphasize the need for this strength, power, and established roots?  There's something huge coming ... "‎18 in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."  Paul concludes with full acknowledgement that what he is asking of God is mere pittance compared with all that He can and will do ... all glory to God and Christ Jesus forever and ever more!

What Calling?

‎Therefore … walk worthy of your calling?

Be holy.

"‎3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love," (Eph 1:3-4)

Do good works.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (‎Eph 2:10)

Be holy ... sanctified, cleansed by the Word.

"‎25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." (Eph 5:25-27)

Be holy!

"‎14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”" (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Well then, exactly how are we to walk worthy?

"2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:2–6)

Humility, gentleness, patience ...

Putting up with each other in love ... not begrudgingly

Unity ... but not unity at any cost, unity of the Spirit

An Exercise in Self-fulfillment?

Paul opens his letter to the Colossians with thanksgiving for their love in the Spirit.  Then proclaims, that love has encouraged him to pray for their spiritual maturity ... why?  So that they would walk worthy!  How?  "...bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God"

"9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9–10)

But are they to do this in their own strength?  Never!

"11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:11–20)

Spiritual Focus

In helping my son to learn driving skills, I've come to recall some important lessons.  One simple, yet critical and essential lesson is that you will almost automatically drive where you focus your attention.  Fortunately, he learned this first hand in relative safety.  Getting distracted with what you're passing by or focusing on the boundary lines for the lane you're driving in will tend to lead you away from the center of that lane.  Likewise, our spiritual focus needs to be continually trained on that for which we are aiming.

“8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil 4:8-9)

“1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” (Heb 12:1-17)

As is often the case with such essential lessons from Scripture, the heart of this matter has been eloquently penned for us in the words of a glorious old hymn.

A Charge to Keep I Have (Charles Wesley, 1762)

1. ‎A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the sky;

2. ‎To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill;
Oh, may it all my powers engage To do my Master's will.

3. ‎Arm me with jealous care, As in Thy sight to live;
And oh, Thy servant, Lord, prepare A good account to give.

4. ‎Help me to watch and pray, And on Thyself rely;
And let me ne'er my trust betray, But press to realms on high.