“I…urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…”
Ephesians 4:1
Tales of castles, knights in shining armor, damsels in distress, wicked stepmothers, good and kindly kings, handsome princes, and simple-but-beautiful milkmaids-become-princesses fueled many happy hours of childhood fantastical playtime for me.
My momma always encouraged creative activities – acting out stories, drawing and coloring pictures of my heroes and heroines, and building packing-box castles. Once I learned to read and write, she encouraged me to write and illustrate my own stories.
Throughout those tender years, Mom would remind me that all those wonderful fairy-tale stories were just that – stories. Pretend. Make-believe. They were not to be confused with real life.
During those same years, Mom would faithfully read Bible stories to me most every day. She said that those stories were absolutely real. Completely true. Those stories were about actual flesh-and-blood people who had lived on Earth, eventually died, and then went to Heaven or Hell. She told me that one day I would get to meet many of those people in Heaven.
Mom also told me – so often that it was forever etched into my heart and mind – that because God Almighty, the King of Glory (Psalm 24:8-10), was my Father and Jesus was my Savior, I was a child of the King, and that made me a Princess. A Princess! How amazingly awesome!
Then she told me that as one of God’s children, I was to live by God’s rules for His royal family. Rules and commands that HE has given in His Holy Word, the Bible. God expects (demands) that His Children obey and live by His rules and instructions. She said that when others know you belong to God, they have higher expectations of you. They expect you to be kinder, nicer, more loving, more honest, more generous, and more everything-else-good than unbelievers. Mom said that everything I did would be (is) a reflection on my Heavenly Father – for good or bad.
Honestly, that was a heavy truth to take in as a child, but I got it. I understood.
I wish I could say…
– that every day of my life has been guided by that truth – God’s Truth,
– that my life has always been lived in obedience to my Heavenly Father, my God, and my King,
– that my behavior has always been a reflection of the character of my LORD, and
– that my walk has been worthy of a child in the Royal Family of GOD.
I cannot make any of those claims. But what I can say is that God picks me up when I fall flat on my face, HE forgives me and sets me on my feet and tells me to “try it again – this time, in obedience to Him, in the strength of His Spirit, depending wholly on Him, and fully trusting in Him and His grace. HE tells me to walk worthy of the position that HE has entrusted to me.”
Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentile world was the focus of Paul’s ministry, but much of his Holy Spirit-directed writing is devoted to the discipleship and spiritual growth of the believers in the churches Paul helped established – that is Paul encouraged the believers to “walk worthy.”
To the Church in Ephesus, Paul wrote:
Walk worthy of your calling.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3
To the Church in Philippi, Paul wrote:
Walk worthy of the gospel of Christ.
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.” Philippians 1:27-28
Paul wrote to the Church in Colossae:
Walk worthy of your LORD and GOD.
“And so…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, 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; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” Colossians 1:9-12
To the Church in Thessalonica, Paul wrote:
Walk worthy of your GOD, His kingdom, and His glory.
“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.” 1 Thessalonians 2:12
In a second letter to the Church of Thessalonica, Paul wrote:
Walk worthy of the Kingdom of God and His Calling, so that the name of Jesus Christ may be glorified, in you, and you in Him.
“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God…” 2 Thessalonians 1:5
“To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our LORD Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the LORD Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“Walking worthy” in no way means that you are attempting to earn your salvation by your actions or your works. It does mean that you are attempting to walk in line with the behavior of obedience expected from a child of the King. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old has passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“Walking worthy” means that you are living your life in such a way that you are a shining light of God’s Truth and you are glorifying your Savior in all that you say and do.
Here’s a question that we all must ask ourselves and answer honestly:
“Am I walking worthy?”
If not, why not? What changes do I need to make in my life – in my priorities – in my attitudes and desires?
May God in His mercy and grace, and in the power of His Spirit, guide us – you and me – to walk worthy of our calling and in all things to bring glory and honor to our LORD and Savior.
