This Year's Theme Verse: "Walk Worthy..."

Every year, it has been my habit to set a “theme Bible verse” for the year ahead. Some sort of spiritual goal, or motivational catch-phrase that helps me to grow in my walk with Jesus. I use these themes as a tool to help set the tone of my year, or encourage myself on an area I see as needing an extra “oomph” in my personal spiritual growth. I also ask God prior to the new year as to what He wants me to emphasize. He is always faithful to give me a directional verse or theme. Do I conquer these verse themes each year? Hardly! Probably its a “some more, and some less” answer depending on the year/theme. But they do help me to move forward, gaining some ground in recognizing where I fall short, and where I have improved. Last year’s theme verse was “Study To Be Quiet” and I still have a long way to go on that one, but… I did see some improvement. I’m still working on that one. Probably for the rest of my life!

So, this year, I asked God again, what verse is our theme for this year, God? (I usually start asking somewhere in December as I see the new year fast approaching!) I toyed with a few, but they didn’t “stick” so to speak, because there was so much in my heart that I wanted to give encouragement to, and they didn’t cover it. Until I arrived at this one: “Walk Worthy…”

I have always had a sense of awe over these “walk worthy” verses. (There are 3 plus a bonus with the same Greek word/meaning) I first noticed them as a young teenager, reading my Bible with eager, fresh, newly saved, eyes. They inspired me then, and they are revamping that inspiration in me for this year. I have struggled this past year with lots of distractions, insecurities, doubts; and positive dreams also, about the path God has me on right now. This theme helps to direct me to focus on what I need to focus on, leaving all the distractions behind me.

Because… hold on, there is more. The 3 dots of my “Walk Worthy” theme allude to the second part of my motivational theme for this year. I am writing about that second part in a separate post because they are 2 separate themes, but for me personally, 2 sides of the same coin. The second half of my theme verse is “…Follow the Dream.” You can take them together or separate, and be motivated by either one, or both. I am using them together this year to motivate me in a direction I feel God is prodding me.

What does it mean to “Walk Worthy?”

Here are the 3 specific passages, plus the like-meaning bonus passage, from the New Testament where this call to action is located.

Ephesians 4:1-3 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Colossians 1:9-14 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 “As ye know how we exhorted (encouraged) and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children, that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”

Philippians 1:27 has the same idea and same Greek word (axios) that is translated as “worthy” in all the above verses, but in this verse it is translated as “becometh.”
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.”

In each of these passages, the idea is since you were redeemed through the precious and perfect blood of Christ, walk worthy of that redemption in Him. The Greek word used here for worthy (and for becometh in the Phillipians verse) is “axios” which means appropriately, as becometh, after a Godly sort, worthily; according to Strong’s Concordance.

Now, I know that I was not worthy of what Christ did for me. Not worthy of the plan that God made before the beginning of creation. Not worthy of the price that Christ willingly gave for my redemption. I was a rotten sinner. I nailed Christ’s hands and feet to the cruel cross. I did that.

He loved me anyway. Wanted me. Sought me. Bought me. Wooed me. Chased me. Forgave me. Redeemed me. Lives in me.

I am so very thankful. I still cannot wrap my head around it. Even after 45+ years. Why me? A silly, broken, insignificant, ignorant, little 12 year old girl, with absolutely nothing to offer. But, I desperately wanted His forgiveness. Asked sincerely for it. Was truly and deeply sorrowful for what I had done and for being a sinner. I accepted His forgiveness. I have, and will, spend the rest of this earthly life and all of Eternity being grateful for His mercy and grace to me.

Walk worthy? Impossible in one sense, but with God all things are possible! And with His power inside of me, I can give my all to living out His purpose; walking in His worthiness which has been poured into me by the act of redemption. He has declared me worthy. Justification. He has made me worthy. Sanctification. He is making me worthy.

I am a glorious work in His progress. It is truly not me. It is all Him. I am just thankful. He loves me and I just want to love Him back! So because of that, I will walk in obedience, trust, faith, and yieldedness. I will seek to serve Him in all I do. I will respond to His love in kind. Loving Him back and striving to love all those around me as I have been loved. I can’t do that in my own strength, but with the power of God’s Holy Spirit living in me, I bear the fruit He grows in me, Love, Joy, Peace, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, Long-suffering. (Galatians 5:22) This is how I “walk worthy.”

All the things declared in these 4 passages above are far beyond my own abilities. But they are an amazing possibility when we allow Christ to do them through us. Let me list the things I see in the above passages that we are told to do to walk worthy:

Ephesians 4:1-3
– Walk worthy of the vocation God has called you to.
– Walk humbly in lowliness and meekness of mind.
– Walk patiently.
– Walk lovingly.
– Walk peacefully.
Colossians 1:9-14
– Walk in knowledge of God’s will.
– Walk in wisdom.
– Walk in spiritual understanding.
– Walk pleasing to God.
– Walk fruitful in good works.
– Walk in the knowledge of God.
– Walk strengthened in God’s power.
– Walk in patience and long-suffering.
– Walk in joyfulness.
– Walk in thankfulness to God for all He has done and is doing in us
because of Jesus.
I Thessalonians 2:11-12
– Walk appropriately of one God has called into His Kingdom and Glory.
Philippians 1:27
– Walk appropriate to the gospel.
– Walk in unity of the uplifting of the gospel.

Wow… that’s quite a list! That ought to keep me very busy! Not just for this year, but for a lifetime. This whole list can be boiled down to the phrase, “Walk Worthy.” Very powerful words, and very exhortative. I hope they encourage you and I to live out the Gospel we have received so other’s can see Christ in us! Philippians 2:12 says to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. This doesn’t mean works save you… they don’t. Nothing you do by way of good works can make an impact in whether you go to Heaven or not.

Jesus did it all. He paid it all! My price, my ransom, my deserved punishment for sin, and yours. I just truly repent of being a sinner, accept and receive this free gift of forgiveness and salvation. Then my love and thankfulness constrains me to love back, and seek to walk worthy of the precious eternal gift I have received.

How could it not? All to Christ I owe. Because He paid it all for me.