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| "Thou Art Worthy" by C.V. Lacroix |
Once we have come to know the Lord, we must live according to heaven's standard. We need to realize once again that being a disciple of Christ is a very high and holy calling. That's why the apostle Paul said, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” (Eph 4:1).
Some people may have a high esteem for certain servants of God like missionaries or pastors, because we perceive that they live at a much higher standard of devotion to God. But the standard for simply being a Christian is much higher than we realize. It is a holy and righteous standard. We are expected to live the same way here on earth as they do in heaven.
Our Lord Jesus has come from heaven, stripped of all His glory, appearing as a man, humble and meek. He has laid down His life willingly for us, and suffered greatly at the hands of sinful men. He became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Though He Himself knew no sin, He became a sin offering for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God. He did not do all of that for us, so that we could go on living in sin!
The apostle Paul exhorted the Colossians, “So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Col 1:10). That's my exhortation to you today. Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and please Him in all respects. It will cost you everything, but He's worth it! He is worthy of our highest and best.
Don't settle for a lukewarm life of ease and pleasure that is lived only for yourself. The gospel requires total devotion to Christ. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” (Php 1:27). That's the message I am giving you today that you conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. We must elevate the gospel once again to it's rightful place and then align our lives in accordance with it.
This is no easy task. That's why Paul told the Thessalonians he prayed earnestly for them, “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling…” (2Th 1:11a NASB). In his second epistle to them, he said he was still praying for them that God would count them worthy of their calling. He also reminded them in his first epistle how he dealt with them as a father deals with his children, encouraging, comforting, and urging them,“So that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1Th 2:12). That's my prayer for you today as well, that you would walk in a manner worthy of God. After all, He has called you into His own kingdom and glory.
We must live by kingdom standards now, not by the world's standards. That means the world is not going to accept us or our message, and that results in persecution. The Thessalonians were persecuted, and Paul encouraged them that “This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.” (2Th 1:5 NASB). He said that because they were suffering for the kingdom, they would be considered worthy of the kingdom. Are we suffering for the kingdom today?
The Lord Jesus told His disciples the signs that would occur before He returns, and gave a clear picture of how terrible this world would become (Mt 24; Mk 13; Lk 21). We are now living in those days, and He is coming back right away. Therefore His admonition to them then is necessary all the more for us today. He said, “Watch therefore, and pray continually, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and that ye may stand before the son of man.” (Lk 21:36, GNV). We must watch and pray continually so that we may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and that we may stand before the Son of Man when He comes in all His glory.
Putting it All Together
Therefore, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. Live a life worthy of the kingdom of God, and walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, Who is worthy of our highest and best.
Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted. "Thou Art Worthy" illustration by my seventeen-year old daughter, C.V. You can find more of her lovely artwork at A Brush with Life.
Author's note: I invite you to visit these related articles of mine: "Called to be Blameless," "The Obedience of Faith," "Is Obedience Optional?", "Obedience by the Spirit," "Righteous Deeds and White Robes," "Striving to Enter the Kingdom of God," "Doing What is Right", "Faith Works!" "Is Practical Righteousness a Lost Truth?", "Pleasing the Lord," "The Difference Between a Disciple and a Believer," "Holding Fast the Faithful Word," "Godly Attire & Adornment -- Seven Divine Revelations," "Rock, Rap, and Reggae Music -- Three Divine Revelations," "Tattoos and Body Piercing," "The Lord Will Rejoice Over You," and "The New Covenant." You can find more articles like this on the Home Page of this blog, and you can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.
