Blog
“Walking Worthy – Part 2”
Walking Worthy – Part 2
Wade Webster
As Christians, we are called of God. Paul wrote, ‘I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). It is a high calling because it comes from above. In the book of Hebrews, it is called a heavenly calling. We read, “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus” (Heb. 3:1). It is a calling “of God” because God is the One who calls from above. We should walk in a way that is worthy of Him. To the saints in Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:10-12). In like manner, to the saints at Colosse, Paul wrote, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:9-10). Please note the three things that we do to live a life worthy of the calling of God. We fully please Him, we bear fruit for Him, and we increase in our knowledge of Him. In addition to being a high or heavenly calling, our calling of God is a holy calling. To Timothy, Paul wrote, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Tim. 1:8-9). In like manner, to the saints at Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thess. 4:3-7). God is a holy God. It makes sense that our calling should match His holiness. Peter wrote, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16).
If we conduct ourselves with great decorum to walk across an earthly stage to receive the praise and accolades of men, how much more should we conduct our lives with great decorum in preparation for crossing that heavenly stage to the praise and approval of God. To the church at Sardis, Jesus said, “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Rev. 3:4-5). Please note the language of the passage - walk, white robes, names called, worthy. This sure sounds like a graduation. Will we hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mat. 25:21)? Will we have walked worthy of the calling of God and the gospel?
