Today I am thinking about one of my favorite Bible words. It is the word “worthy.” We don’t use this word much anymore, but I like it and think that it is a worthy word worth our time to think about! So how’s that?
First, do you often have feelings of being unworthy? I sometimes do. I’m not sure where this feeling originates from, but I don’t like it and neither do you. Feeling unworthy in the presence of a Holy God, I can understand, but feeling we are less trhan worthy in the presence of peers, family, or business associates is not the formula for having a great day!
So, here are some truths to live by from the Book of books that seems to have all my answers to difficult questions.
The Scriptures tell us as believers to “Walk worthy of our calling.”(Ephesians 4:1) Notice our calling in Christ is a “walk.” It is not a walk in the park, but rather a worthy walk. That challenges me daily. It reminds me that being a Christ follower is not about a destination-heaven -when I die; so much as it is a following a journey with Him. So, since I am called to walk with Him daily, my soul cries out, “I am not worthy” to journey with the Lamb who is worthy. “Woe is me, I am undone, unfit, and unworthy ,“ says my flesh.
Yet, while it is true, none of us are worthy within ourselves, God has declared us worthy through the atonement of the Cross. We are never worthy to enter His Holy presence apart from Christ’s atonement. Satan eagerly awaits an opportunity to seperate us from the Cross and our identity in Christ in order to shame us. The enemy works his best work in the arena of your emotions. You cannot trust your feelings to convince you are worthy. The temptor smiles when we listen to our emotions as tutors of self-esteem. It is an issue of your faith to believe that God’s favor is upon you simply because you are in Christ and declared righteous in and through His Cross.
Here’s a simple example:
A vital piece of your worthy walk is being able to talk to Christ along the way, and through the day. I’m talking about prayer. When your heart is telling you that you are not worthy to pray because of some sin, failure or such, Satan has wrecked your walk. God’s Word contradicts him by telling us that when we feel condemnation (shame) while praying, to remember that God is greater than our hearts, and that He has set our hearts at rest in his presence.( 1st John 3:19,20)
Our great fear is that we are never good enough. I can understand that. Especially when our “worthy walk” is described as “walking as He walked” ( 1st John 2:6) How can that be? How can you and I ever “walk as He walked?” My lifestyle and that of Jesus are not identical. By no means!
Here are some suggestions for being and feeling worthy today:
- Our walk with Christ is life’s great adventure– fought with many perils, pits, and possibilities. It will never be easy, but it is worth it.
- Our walk has many potholes– you will fall into a few. Never let failure be final. We must reach out to the offered hand of God and get up, get out, and get going again and again. It is the way of grace.
- Our walk is not a lonely walk– we are with Christ and His community of followers. We never walk alone. The Worthy one goes before us blazing a trail for us to follow. (see Hebrews 12:1,2) His family (the church) are walking with us.
- Our walk is a faith journey, believing that Jesus will provide the direction and the energy of His living presence in us to make it possible.
- Our walk is to be in the same direction as He walked. Meaning we will care about what He cares about, doing what He is empowering us to do.
- Our walk is hand in hand– Christ is before us, behind us, above us, and beside us every step of the way.
I find encouragement in these truths- join me in walking it out!
