WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD

“That you would WALK WORTHY of GOD who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” – 1 Thessalonians 2:12

To walk in perfection is to WALK WORTHY of the LORD: “That you would WALK WORTHY of GOD who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (2The.2:12). Scripture after scripture, we see that the use of the word “walk” describes our journey in life with God. A walk is simply how we live our lives through practical daily actions. From humanity’s inception, before the rebellion in Eden, God enjoyed walking in the garden with Adam and Eve (Gen.3:8). And He wants to continue to walk with us today. A WORTHY WALK is one that pleases God: “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to WALK and TO PLEASE GOD” (1The.4:1).

This verse affirms further, that God calls us “into His own kingdom and glory.” We are consistently reminded in Scripture that God calls us from something and to something. We are called from death to life (1Jh.3:14). We are called from darkness to light (1 Pet. 2:9). We are called from bondage to liberty (Gal. 5:13). We are called from labour to rest (Mt. 11:28). God constantly calls us to higher ground and loftier realms because our walk is never to become routine and static, but dynamic and changing for the best (Eph.4:1; Col.1:10). While we’ll never arrive eternity in these bodies of clay, we who have been born-again by redemption through Christ’s Blood, are called to walk like the children of God that we really are.

We should be pleasers of God more than of men: “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Gal.1:10). We please God more by our WALK than our WORK; by CHARACTER development than charisma; growing in GRACE than increasing in goods; and maturing in the FAITH than amassing funds. We please God more by manifesting the fruit of the Spirit than engaging in a flurry of activities, however valuable these may seem. The Work flows best from the Walk. Gracious attitude and godly conduct are more important to our heavenly Father than the good works that we do for Him. God is more interested in WHO we ARE than WHAT we DO.

Through both his message and personal life-style, Paul challenged the Thessalonian believers to live in a manner that was worthy of God’s call. He was a living example of a worthy walk, epitomising honour to God and reflection of His Character. Walking worthy is however impracticable without the enabling strength of God’s Spirit. It is only in admitting that without Christ we can do nothing that He empowers us through the indwelling Spirit to walk worthy of God. The good works that God has prepared for all His children will be carried out most profitably as we walk in spirit and truth, trusting Him wholeheartedly, rather than relying solely on our own understanding (Pro.3:5). Here are specific conducts that please God:

Faith pleases Him (Heb.11:6). Backsliding displeases Him (Heb.10:38).

Abiding in His Word and Will gives Him pleasure (Eph.1:9; Phi.2:13).

Imbibing the mind of a “good soldier” of Christ pleases God (1Tim.2:4).

Walking in the spirit does; while those who are “in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom.8:8).

Encouraging and edifying others pleases God (Rom.15:1).

Walking worthy of God is perhaps the highest calling to which those who have tasted of His gracious salvation can ascend. We have not only received forgiveness of sin and eternal life through faith in Him, but have been called to be partakers of His divine nature and heavenly kingdom and received a share in His own glory – as heirs of God and joint-heir with Christ! We, who were once enslaved to sin and steeped in shame, have been translated into His Kingdom of light, life, love, grace, and glory! How important that we should walk worthy of our calling as God’s children! May our character and conduct give honour to His holy Name!