Walking Worthy of Christ

Background Scripture: 1 Timothy 1-2
Lesson Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-10

Introduction

The subject of being worthy or unworthy can touch many different areas of life. This lesson will focus more on walking worthy, which implies leading a life that is becoming of Christ’s name. Walking worthy defines the connection that faith has to practice. As we explore this together, may the study of this lesson enlarge our understanding of where we stand in the great plan of God.

In Revelation 5:2 the question is asked, “Who is worthy to open the book?” Later the statement, “Thou art worthy,” refers to Christ alone as being worthy. It is He who deserves our devotion, which we may give Him by living an upright, pure, and committed life.

Key Verse

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying (Rom. 13:13).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The apostle Paul presents some basic instruction for a life that is acceptable to God. Prayers for all men, including government officials and others in authority, are needful so we can continue to live quietly, peacefully, and honestly, following our God-given convictions. Walking worthy of Christ includes following his humble example—not boisterous, opinionated, or loud.

The calling of God through Christ is to all men that they will be saved. This can easily become obscured in the busyness of daily life. Seeking godliness and truth should be some guiding principles.

We are called to prayer twice within the lesson text. At another place in the Scripture, we are enjoined to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). It is easy to forget our great dependency upon God. Too often it takes trouble or misfortune to bring us back to Him.

What a beautiful place godly women can fill with a life of humility and simplicity. The flesh wants to be noticed and dress itself up, but a Christian woman who is dressed in a modest way is attractive and Christlike at the same time. Biblical teaching gives direction on how to refrain from dress that will attract unfavorable attention. Being arrayed with good works and an inner beauty gives a Christian woman spiritual depth.

Practical Truths for Today

The feelings of being worthless are promoted by a sense of inadequacy or insufficiency, which often is founded in inferior pride. At first glance, this seems improbable, thinking of pride generally as elevating oneself. Pride is the faulty measuring device used to categorize people. Ultimately, I as an individual also have to have a place somewhere on the scale, and it will either be above or below others. If it is below, then we are left with the difficulty of inferiority.

A common desire of man is to present something of value to be accepted. Not until we have a true sense of the greatness of God and our need of Him can we get past the feelings of worthlessness. It is He alone who makes us good and gives us grace. We are not all equally endowed with gifts and talents, but all can be made complete in Christ and find acceptance through his work of salvation. We cannot make ourselves acceptable or do enough good to measure up to be worthy and earn the esteem of men and the blessing of God.

Unworthiness is very different than worthlessness. Unworthiness is rooted in the understanding of what God has done for us and helps us recognize our depravity. We are never far from sin and are prone to wandering away from God. Unworthiness generates deep thankfulness for the plan of salvation and makes us keenly aware of the great debt we have been forgiven. It has forbearance, forgiveness, compassion, and empathy for our fellowman. With these attributes, there is no superiority or inferiority; it weeps with those who weep, mourns with those who mourn, and rejoices with those who rejoice. Until our unworthiness is the basis of our understanding of what it means to walk worthy, our lives will entail much self-effort which will lead to eventual failure.

It is remarkable how unworthiness is so much a part of being made worthy. Being worthy is being redeemed, having our sins under the blood. We have no merit of our own but trust Christ who alone is worthy. The gratitude that we have for this brings us to a life of compassion, caring, and sharing. The Scripture also tells us that if we have been forgiven much, we will also love much. This is manifested in faithful obedience to Christ and his Word. In Revelation 3:4 we read of those who were named worthy because they did not defile their garments.

Walking worthy of Christ is simply living a faithful, obedient, Christian life in humility. It is being conformed to the image of Christ and having the mind of Christ. He took on the form of a servant and was obedient to the will of God, even unto death. Paul tells us in Colossians 2:6, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” We received the Lord in humility and contrition at the foot of the cross. We can walk worthy in his steps by continuing with this frame of mind.

Spiritual pride is a peril to walking worthy of Christ. Taking credit to ourselves for our goodness and right living fosters a judgmental and critical spirit. It lacks forgiveness and forbearance to others. Any form of superiority that we may have is felt, and it will hinder our witness and our relationships with others. When we walk with Christ, the fruits of the Spirit are in evidence without us even knowing it.

Sometimes we end our prayers saying something like this, “Help us to so live that we might be worthy of a home in heaven.” Is this somehow subtracting from what God has done for us and putting more value in living a good life? Can we really live good enough to be worthy of a home in heaven?

The apostle Paul speaks of “[adorning] the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Tit. 2:10). This adornment is not an outward adornment for either men or women. If we are graced inwardly by the knowledge of God, our outward adornment will be appropriate. It is easy for man to become orthodox—to live by a form or by habit without having spiritual warmth. Man tends to be comfortable living by a set of rules that determine his boundaries. When he measures himself by his adherence to these boundaries, he can comfort himself that he is right. Living by the Spirit can at times be less comfortable than living by a set of standards that we have set for ourselves.

True spiritual freedom is the freedom to do what God and his Spirit direct us to do. This often exceeds the bounds of orthodoxy, though this should not imply an independent spirit that is not subject to the church. There is little drawing in a right and proper religious person without the adornment of a Christlike spirit. First Corinthians 13 describing a properly adorned Christian who is walking worthy of Christ. May this be our blessing.

Questions

1. Why is living by form or a rule often easier than living by the Spirit?
2. Jesus said, “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:20). Does this ever cause us to put too much value on outward appearance or on works?
3. A song says, “Humble thyself to walk with God.” 1 Would this be the classifier for walking worthy of Christ?
4. 1 “Humble Thyself to Walk with God,“ Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1856-1926), Christian Hymnal
5. Unsubscribe

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).