When Worthiness Matters

I’ve not used this sentence in my life but I’ve certainly heard it on TV shows:  “Stop acting that way.  You are a (fill in the blank with a last name) and the (same last name) family doesn’t act that way.”  Maybe you’ve heard that same thing or even had it said about you or said it to someone else.  The idea is that a person should behave in a way that is worthy of their family name. Sometimes the same idea is used for an appointed or elected position.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is very clear that we don’t become a child of God, adopted into the family of God because of our worthiness.  No one is “worthy” of being forgiven of his/her sin and granted eternal life.  That privilege comes by faith and grace.  But there is an element of worthiness that is described in the New Testament.  Here is verse 12 of chapter 2 of 1 Thessalonians: “that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” Here Paul is exhorting the Thessalonians to walk, or live, in a way that is worthy of God.  Again, this is not so they can be a part of God’s family but now that they are a part of God’s family, they should live in a worthy manner. And God does His part by equipping us with the Holy Spirit so that we can walk in that worthy manner.  How Christians live their lives really does matter…it matters to God and it matters to those who watch.  Are you living in a manner that is worthy of the call that God has extended to you?  If not, why not?  Worthiness really does matter.