Walking Worthy

…so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Colossians 1:10

What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord? When we see the word walk in the bible it refers our everyday conduct. A mind controlled by the knowledge of God’s word, His wisdom, and His understanding produces a life worthy of the Lord. Although it may seem to you impossible that anyone could walk worthy of the Lord that is what the God’s word teaches us. Paul desired the Thessalonians to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). He exhorted the Ephesians to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). He told the Philippians to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).

Here is the good news, God has not left us to our own resources for walking the worthy walk. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now  live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Christ dwells in us in the person of the Holy Spirit. Paul prayed for the Ephesians “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16–17). Trying to walk worthy in our own strength is doomed to failure.

The New Testament describes several features of the worthy walk. We are to walk in humility (Ephesians 4:1–3); in purity (Rom. 13:13,); in contentedness (1 Corinthians 7:17); by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7); in good works (Ephesians 2:10); different from the world (Ephesians 4:17–32); in love (Ephesians 5:2); in light (Ephesians 5:8); in wisdom (Ephesians 5:15); and in truth (3 John 3–4). When we walk this way we will please Him in all the areas of our lives.

Fruitfulness also results from knowledge. The fruit in our lives is the byproduct of righteousness. It is the mark of every truly saved person. Jesus said in John 15:8, “By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples”. The Bible defines fruit in various ways. Here Paul speaks of bearing fruit in every good work. Here are a few examples of fruit bearing:

1. Converts are referred to as fruit. Paul spoke of the household of Stephanas as the “first fruits of Achaia” (1 Corinthians 16:15).

2. Praise is also fruit. “Through Him then, let us  continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)  

3. Giving money can also be fruit (Romans 15:26–28).

4. Godly living is fruit, as indicated when the writer of Hebrews tells us that God’s discipline produces in us “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).

5. Finally, the holy attitudes mentioned in Galatians 5:22–23 are referred to as “the fruit of the Spirit.”

What produces theses fruits in believers’ lives? John MacArthur writes, “First, union with Christ. Jesus said in John 15:4–5, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” Second, wisdom is a necessary prerequisite for bearing fruit. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). Lack of fruit is directly related to lack of spiritual wisdom. Finally, diligent effort on the Christian’s part is required, as Peter writes: Applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5–8)^”

If you are a follower of Christ you will be a fruit bearer. So I ask you, are you bearing fruit for the Lord?

Your Shepherd,

Pastor Mark