Bible Ballistics: BBs #199 Walking Worthy Of Our Lord???

We are called to “walk worthy” of the calling that we have received from our Lord Jesus Christ. This call is repeated throughout the scriptures, and whenever something is repeated, it means we need to regard its import:

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” Ephesians 4:1

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Colossians 1:10

“That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 1:12

We are called to walk “worthy” of our vocation and our calling! We are called to walk “worthy” of our Lord, and be pleasing, fruitful and full of good works for HIM. We are called to walk “worthy” of God Himself, and His kingdom and glory, which we have become a part of. But how do we walk worthy of such an awesome God? Let’s allow God’s Word to answer that question for us.

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11

And James gives us a recipe for walking “worthy” in humility before our Lord in this world. Let’s look at what James has to say to us:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.” James 4:7-10

How this flies in the face of all that our culture tells us!

Be independent all by YOURSELF—

Stand up for YOURSELF—

Be proud of YOURSELF—

Promote YOURSELF—

Don’t depend on anyone but YOURSELF—

Don’t depend on anything but YOURSELF—

Demand YOUR rights—

Demand YOUR way—

Demand your share for YOURSELF!!!

But God calls us to a different walk to walk “worthy” of Him and His Kingdom. What is affecting your walk? Are you letting the world dictate your walk, or are you making a difference in this world by living according to the definition of “worthy” that James paints for us?

Submitting to God—

Resisting the Devil (and yes he is real)—

Drawing near to God (continually)—

Cleansing our hands (morally)—

Having a pure heart!

But James doesn’t stop there, he calls us to mourn over the conditions around us—over the sin and wickedness that pervades our culture and our world. To mourn over the fact that men are calling evil good and good evil! It’s where we live, but we don’t have to glory in it. And then James sums it all up for us:

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up”

Just as Jesus told us to pray in the model prayer—

“THY kingdom come…..”

“THY will be done….”

Even as He prayed Himself in the garden:

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

And we must fill our hearts and lives with the Word of God and the God of the Word:

“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.” Psalm 119:10-12