Walking Worthy – Memorial Subject

WALKING WORTHY – Memorial Subject (Friday 11^th April 2025)

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” – Eph. 4:1.

Beloved brethren in Christ, at the time of the year, when we remember our Lord’s memorial, it is really an appropriate time to examine our progress along the narrow way, wherein we have been called to walk, in order to gain “life”, life in its highest form, “glory and honour and immortality” or  in the language of the scriptures “life in himself (ourselves)”. — Matt. 7:14, Rom. 2:7, John 5:26.

As we bring to attention our text, we note that the Apostle Paul was beseeching “the saints which are at Ephesus” (Eph. 1:1) that they “walk worthy of the vocation” wherewith they were called. The same words of the Apostle does apply to us, who are at the end of the Gospel age, for God “having predesignated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Eph. 1:5; In Tamil Eph. 1:6). Thus, it is our wholehearted expression in the language of the Apostle “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

OUR CALLING

The Apostle Paul, in the beginning of his epistle, prays that our eyes being enlightened, understand the hope of the calling. Understand what riches of glory? Understand what is the exceeding greatness? — Eph. 1:17-19.

We note that our calling is termed “high calling” (Phil. 3:14) or “heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1) and that we “if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom. 8:17).

HOW TO WALK?

Now having understood the value of the our calling, we next bring to our attention, our text where the Apostle beseeches us to “walk worthy”. We ask, then, what it is to “walk worthy”? How can we “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called?” (Eph. 4:1)

But before we examine the scriptures on how to walk worthy, let us note that there are ample scriptures that warn us on how not to walk. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly” (Psa. 1:1). “…ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Thess. 3:6). “Let us walk… not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying” (Rom. 13:13).

Out of the many scriptures, that guide us to walk, let us meditate on a few key scriptures that teach us, how to walk worthy.

• Walking in the fear of God. “Walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied”.  Act 9:31. Without this walk, we could not have come to God. Only when we fear or rather reverence God, our hearts and minds are open to His Voice, His Words. It is only after this walking starts all other walks can proceed.
• Walking by faith. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7; In Tamil 2 Cor. 5:6. This walk is one that we start at the first step and never stop. Keep walking. Each step in faith is important. It should be progressive and not result in reverse steps. Further, we have the Apostle Paul’s statement, “without faith it is impossible to please him” Heb. 11:6.
• Walking in Christ Jesus. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him”. Col. 2:6. We should walk as ones who have put on Christ. We should abide in Jesus. We should abide in our consecration and thus walk within the limits of our consecration. Thus, we will walk in Christ Jesus.
• Walking like Jesus walked. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked”. 1 John 2:6. We have to follow His example, His words, His precepts, His methods, His ways, in order to gain his likeness.
• Walking in the Spirit. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”. Gal. 5:25. Those of us, who have been begotten by the Holy Spirit have an important walking to do. We should walk in the spirit, in the requirements of the spirit of God.
• Walking honestly. “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without”. 1 Thess. 4:12; In Tamil 1 Thess. 4:11. This is an absolute requirement, not only for this age, but also for the age to come. Without this one quality, none will be accepted into the Kingdom of God.
• Walking in His commandments. “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it”. 2 John 1:6. Walking in the commandments means, to follow the commandments given to us.
• Walking in the truth. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth”. 3 John 1:4. This involves not only walking, but to walk in truth, we must seek the truth, seek the Word of God. We must study, spend our time, energy and diligently yet prayerfully seek the Truth, that thus we may walk in the truth.
• Walking in the light. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another”. 1 John 1:7. Who wants to walk in darkness? Unless he is either blind or is overconfident about his other senses? Those who do not wish to fall always walk in the light. The light mentioned in this verse refers to truth, openness, not hiding, not having hypocrisy. So, if we walk in truth and openness, we shall have real fellowship with our brethren and thus have more opportunities for service.
• Walking in wisdom. “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without”. Col. 4:5. Here the Apostle Paul instructs us to use wisdom. Not the worldly wisdom by the wisdom from above, with those who do not possess such wisdom. In general, we are called to share the gospel to those who have an ear to hear and hold back the pearls from the swine.
• Walking in love. “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour”. Eph. 5:2. A very essential walking. As we remember the love of God and the love of Christ, we should also remember to love our brethren. In this walking, we are expected to cover all four quadrants of love – duty love, appreciative love, love for brethren, love for enemies.
• Walking circumspectly or carefully. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise”. Eph. 5:15. We should walk carefully, or exactly (as the Young’s literal translates). The meaning intended is that we be more accurate or precise in our walking. We do not walk as fools, unwise or unprecise in our ways, but rather we take all steps in a more calculated or more precise manner with the help of the “lamp unto our feet”. (Psa. 119:105).
• Walking worthy of the Lord. “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Col. 1:10. Here the Apostle brings to our attention, that our walk should be pleasing to the Lord, in fact, that our walk should produce good works, and thus be worthy of our Lord.
• Walking worthy of God. “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thess. 2:12; In Tamil 1 Thess. 2:11. Here we find that our walk should be in line with God, that is it should be along the requirements of this kingdom and worthy of the glory to be given to us in the Kingdom.

THE REWARD FOR WALKING THUS

Finally, brethren, we read in Revelations 14:4, “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” We have one guide, one Rabbi, who is the Head of the Body, the Church of God. Let us be vigilant to hear his voice only and walk along the paths that he shows us. The path that he has walked already and was victorious and “set down with his Father in His throne” (Rev. 3:21). Let us follow the Lamb of God. And thus, be overcomers and be allotted a place on the throne to sit with our Bridegroom.

In the end, even with our First or Chief Resurrection, we, like the ones in Sardis, will be counted worthy to walk “in white” along with our dear Redeemer. Thus, it is said, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy”. (Rev. 3:4)

In closing this message beloved brethren, we along with the Apostle Paul pray that our God count us worthy of this calling, while we strive to walk worthy in the narrow way of death unto life, life eternal, transcending the ages to come. “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” 2 Thess. 1:11; In Tamil 2 Thess. 1:12.

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