WALK WORTHY

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Last night I shared from this passage

“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. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might…”

Comes from Colossians 1:9-11.  Paul is praying and imploring those folks to “WALK WORTHY”.  In fact when I was sharing with Beth as I was preparing last night’s topic, she indicated that Dr. Brown used to encourage the students at CEDARVILLE U to “walk worthy of their calling.”

So it offers the question of us today.  Just what does that mean? What does it mean to walk worthy; worthy of our calling; worthy of GOD? What does it mean to walk in a manner that GOD would find honorable and pleasing? 

Tough question. 

I don’t believe it means that we are to “walk perfectly”.  Jesus was the only one to achieve that task.

Hebrews 4:15

...one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Yet I do believe this passage from Colossians is there to CHALLENGE us to walk, talk, act, and make choices throughout each day that HONOR GOD. To do our best to demonstrate a life "worthy of our calling" as His children.

Therefore:

We are to PLEASE GOD with our choices and reactions.

We are to "bear GOOD fruit" or in other words allow things like GOD’s joy, peace, gentleness and self-control have rule and guidance over our lives; that our actions would demonstrate the presence of these characteristics.

We are to continuously pursue more and more of CHRIST and His ways each day; increasing in our knowledge of Him and His direction.

But I think the most important takeaway for today is we are to RELY ON THE STRENGTH of GOD for this “worthy walk”.  Lord knows we are NOT very good on our own.  He wants us to TRUST His strength ("be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might")

Proverbs 3:5

…trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

Life does its dead-level best to dictate how we will walk.  Challenges, pressures of work, school demands, the pull and the tug of people places and things make the prospect of “walking worthy” a sometimes difficult challenge.  BUT GOD has promised that when we call upon HIM at the outset of our day and as we walk, He will be faithful to intercede and offer direction and counsel for this walk of life!

Psalm 32:8

Living Bible (TLB)

8 I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress.

So your task for today is clear. Walk today in a manner that is worthy.

GOD will strengthen and guide!

 

I love you all!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney