I have mentioned in my writing and study that I will never be worthy, but I will continue to strive for it and pray that others will as well. But why is the question.

“¹¹To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, ¹²so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV)

I see here in Paul’s 2^nd letter to the church in Thessalonica that it is for the glory of God in you and in Him. I am seeking the glory of God, not that He would remove all affliction, but that I would somehow be able to achieve glory in Him and that He would be glorified by me. I have the duty to seek our the glory of God for me and for those around me. Whether achieved is up to God and us. Our job is to lift Him up and He will provide and grant what is in His will for our lives.

“⁵This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— ⁶since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels” – 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7 (ESV)

There is also the words above from Paul indicating that we seek worthy for relief. As I mentioned above, I will not seek to remove affliction, but that I could achieve glory. Where God will allow for my affliction, He does not forget about me and the work that I have or will do in His name. And as such, He will relieve my afflictions at the appointed time that they are to be relieved for the work done in His name.

Now I know the reasons for my work to be viewed as worthy. I am not, of course, but the work I do for God, I do in the quest for glory and relief. He will provide that which is in His plan for me. And that goes for others as well. I pray not for others to be worthy, but for them to demonstrate worthiness with the idea that they are seeking glory and relief themselves. And when we seek to glorify God, we will be glorified and as Paul writes, will be granted relief.

What actions are you taking to bring glory to God? Are you seeking your own worthiness or that of others? What if you simply sought to bring glory to God so that He would be glorified in you and may provide relief?

I have to remember that I am here to serve others and to be sure that I am spreading the gospel. I have to not think of myself and spend the bulk of my time thinking of others. In action of thinking of others, I have to remember to pray for them and especially to pray for their worthiness.

“⁹And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰so 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 1:9-10 (ESV)

Paul delivered thanksgiving and prayer for the people of Colossae. Here he is addressing their worthiness and as noted in verse 9, was not ceasing to pray for them and that worthiness. He outlines just what his prayers are for and not that he is simply praying for them.

In my work for the Lord and His glory, I must be praying for those around me. And, in my prayer, I have to be very specific in that I am praying for their worthiness in the Lord. I have to advise them of the prayer and exactly what I am praying for to let them know just what the Lord will have in store for them as He answers my prayer. Will His answer be exact, in our sense, no. God does answer prayers and when we are praying fervently for others and not our personal gain, God will indeed answer.

I am concerned for my own worthiness, and I should be. But, I also have to know that I have a life in Christ and when living out my life in Christ, I will be demonstrating the traits of worthiness for all to see. Where I will be doing the most good for God is in working to be sure that all I come in contact with are given the opportunity to know God and work to demonstrate worthiness themselves. I will therefore be praying for the worthiness of those around me and letting them know of my prayers for them.

What are you working for in your life? Are you only thinking of the worthiness of yourself? What if you were to pray for the worthiness of others to be sure they have the same opportunity you have in Christ?

“⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

In the verse above, I see that which I should focus on as opposed to what is seen and pushed. It is that which is of God where I should be giving my attention.

Too often in the world today, we are brought the sensational as opposed to the just. We are exposed to the grand as opposed to the pure. There is a celebration of the material and the honorable is overlooked. I see this every day in my view of the outside world and in the world I work. It seems as those that make the most noise are those that are looked upon with favor and those that sit and do the work are those that are ignored.

There is peace in the those above encouraging words of Paul to the Philippians. He reminds me that I have a duty to God and only to God and I should be looking for those things are bring glory to Him in all that I do. I have to look for and celebrate those things that are worthy of praise in the eyes of God and not those that man tends to celebrate.

“⁹What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:9 (ESV)

It is up to me to find those things that are praise worthy, practice them, and, as noted in verse 9 above, rest in the peace God has for me. It is/will not be easy. I have the world against me and I have nothing but the sensational, the grand, and the material being thrust at me each day. It is difficult to find a place of space where I can find the peace of God to rest in each day.

But here it is, as I sit this morning and study the Word of God, I have that space. I have that peace as I look only into His face as presented to me through His word. I look and see the just, the pure, and the honorable and know that there is hope and when I lean into and practice those things, I will find the peace of God.

What things are you being exposed to that are not of God? Are you being led by the sensational, the grand, and the material? What if you were to focus instead on the just, the pure, and the honorable and that which is praise worthy?

Have you heard the saying, “Real integrity is what you do when no one is watching”? Well I know that I have.

“²⁷Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.” – Philippians 1:27-28 (ESV)

Well there it is in Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. He was challenging “them to be servants” and “to be unified” (Introduction to Philippians in my ESV Bible). In these verses, Paul was explaining to them that even when he was not around to observe their actions, they were still responsible to do that which would be pleasing to God and bringing glory to Him.

The thing is that the truth will always be revealed whether I want it to be or not. I may not have someone explicitly watching my actions, but I am be seen in all that I do. It is easy to keep my actions in check when all eyes are on me. I have a stake in what is seen as others will certainly call me out for my actions in the public eye. It is those actions that I perform when I believe to be in private that are the tell tale signs of true integrity.

I have to be conscious of all of my actions at all times to be sure that I am acting in a way that is worthy, just in case I am seen by others, let alone that God is always watching me and knows all about my actions as well as my thoughts and feelings. I have to act worthy for the glory of God and so that I do not accidentally cause another to stumble in their walk with Him.

What actions are you taking/doing out of the public eye that are different than those for all to see? Are you allowing yourself the opportunity to be less than worthy in “private”? What if you held to the idea of “true integrity is what you do when no one is watching” and acted worthy regardless of what the environment or who may/may not be watching?

“¹I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)

I read this morning and the verses may be a bit confusing in that we are not worthy. I tried to clear things up in the title of my thoughts here, but I also feel compelled to expand a bit more.

I am not worthy, however I should live to be worthy. In the second half of verse one above, Paul writes, “walk in a manner worthy”. He is not saying to be worthy, but more striving and showing others that you are working to be worthy. We can never do enough to earn grace and salvation, works do not do it. No matter what I do, I will never meet the standard or the example demonstrated by Jesus. But, that should not discourage me from continuing to do the work. I am to bring glory to God in all that I do and that is what I am asked for. I am asked by God to be worthy, only to bring glory to Him by bringing Him to the world.

I am to follow the approach outlined in verses two and three above in my work to be worthy. I am to be humble, gentle, patient, loving, and working for peace in the name of God. I am to strive to be worthy. I am to allow others to see me as working to be worthy. I am to be steadfast in my work for God so much that I am looked at as an example of His love and approach.

I have often heard and believe in the phrase, “fake it till you make it”. I also believe that in the course of faking it for others to feel the genuineness in my actions I become genuine in my actions. It is the genuineness that I have to remember in my striving to be worthy. I again say that I am not and will not every be worthy, but I should be acting in a way that others can see my genuine approach to being worthy each and every day.

What approach are you taking in your life? Do you believe that you have arrived and somehow are worthy of praise and adoration? What if you were to simply work to be worthy through your genuine actions to be humble, gentle, patient, loving, and working for peace in the name of God?

“³I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” – Psalm 18:3 (ESV)

I am continually reminded of God’s glory. I am in study of the word “worthy” and was brought to verses that are identical in two books of the His word, above and in 2 Samuel. And the focus of my study is not the same although similar. This morning I am brought to the above passage and what I see is the deliverance from my enemies at the hand of God. And in 2 Samuel I was focused on His fulfilling my needs.

God is my ultimate protector. When I am in trouble with those around me in persecution, He is there to stave them off for my good. God wraps His arms of protection around me and fends off the evil that surrounds me. He will fight the battles for me and win as I find comfort in His word and His glory. I rely on Him.

“¹I love you, O LORD, my strength. ²The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:1-2 (ESV)

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress…my salvation, my stronghold”. Recently my family traveled to Key West and visited Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park where we were able to tour the Fort and see feel the protection provided by the walls there. As I think back to that feeling, I am overwhelmed knowing that God provides the same protection for me from my enemies. I can feel safe in that He is watching the horizon for trouble and is there to not only warn me of the dangers coming, but erects the walls of protection to provide the safety I need. Only He can and will provide that protection and will guide me through those times.

What are you out there fighting on your own? Are you looking for some protection and for someone o fight for you? What if you leaned on God as your “rock” and “fortress” and “salvation” and “stronghold” and let Him save you?

Who is it that we go to for help? I know that I will go to those that I know, my family, friends, close acquaintances, and the like. I go to them because I know that they are there and will work to provide the assistance.

“⁴I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” – 2 Samuel 22:4 (ESV)

Why is it that I miss the one that will help the most, God. I know that He is there to provide for my needs and will protect me from the evil one. He only wants the best for me and the best from me. As I have accepted Him as my savior, He has accepted me as His son and has treasures stored for me in heaven. I know that God will be there for me and all I need is to call on Him.

So why don’t I? I guess it is because He is not the on physically in front of me. I don’t go to Him as I am not able to “see” Him. I don’t go to Him as His answer to my prayer may not be in line with what I “want”. He is there always to provide for my needs and I presume I am not interested in just having those needs met, I want more and more and greater and I guess that I feel as though going to those around my physically will get me more in the way of a worldly view.

I have to remember and look at the two verses that come before the one above to be reminded of the great and wonderful provision of God.

“²He said, ‘The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, ³my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.’” – 2 Samuel 22:2-3 (ESV)

When I am in need of help, I have to remember to reach out to the one that is always there, the LORD. I know of His greatness, love, care, compassion, and protection and the steadfastness of them. I must lean on Him for those and find comfort in the resolution to my ills that He will provide in His time and not my own for He is worthy.

Who are you looking to for assistance and help when needed? Are you looking for someone to save you here in this world? What if you were to lean on the LORD for guidance, greatness, love, care, compassion, and protection and we know He is worthy?

I continue to watch the goings on in society and see the horrifying actions of those promoting a cause. What I mean by horrifying is the move to loud obnoxious speech. Moves to violence. The defamation of those that do not simply agree. I find those actions appalling in that we are to be civilized as humans and yet we tend to act like savages in the attempt to get our way.

“¹⁶These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.” – Jude 1:16 (ESV)

Here Jude is referring to those that are out for their own selfish gain and in doing so, they are outside the will of God. I want to be clear in that there is certainly more to the book of Jude beyond just this one verse. I am simply focusing on this verse as an example of God’s Word and His references to those that are outside of His will.

As I look into society, I see these “loud-mouthed boasters” as they work to “gain advantage” from the rest of society. They are interested in “their own” thoughts and not the thoughts of others. They are out there working to get their own agenda through without thought to how that might impact others. They are simply looking out from themselves and not taking the approach of doing the work of God.

I will admit that it does feel as though as a Christian, I, and the rest of us, are not given a fair shake in society as we are more reserved and conservative in our approach. But I also see that as following the will and character of God. We are to work to get things done by civility and acceptance. We are not to take the hard line aggressive approach with others. We are to be bringing the glory to God and the glory of God to the people. We are not out here to bring our agenda, but His and His alone.

I have to remember the following from Jude in all that I do and the actions I take.

“¹⁷But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’ ¹⁹It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” – Jude 1:17-21 (ESV)

I am here to do the will of God and not the will of man. When I keep my focus there, I have God on my side and know that I will gain “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ”. My civility and love for all is where I gain the advantage, not in the condemnation of others. I am not here to judge others, I am here simply to bring the Lord to everyone and allow Him to do His work through the Holy Spirit in the lives of all who hear.

What advantage have you tried to gain by being bigger and louder than everyone else? Are you out there working for your agenda and not necessarily the will of God? What if you were to utilize civility and simply work to bring the gospel to all and allow that to be your advantage to gain “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ”?

“¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” – Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

This morning I was reminded, by way of the above passage, that the leaders I should be submitting to are those that do the work through joy. There is nothing for me to gain with those “leaders” that do the job out of obligation or while continuing to complain.

I have been in many organizations over the years and those that have been of the most benefit to me have been where those leading are doing so with a joyous heart. They are happy to be there and do the work and strive to do so to the betterment of others and not necessarily for any advantage for themselves. I am speaking of in the secular world as well as in the church. I have learned most from those that were interested in teaching and growing me as opposed to placing themselves in some position to be noticed or where they will get something from the work they are doing.

“⁷Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7 (ESV)

Here is where we should be leaning for help. We should be looking to the content of the character of those that we follow. We should look to imitate them and their faith. We should look to grow from their tutelage. We should look to be like them and follow the path they have set for us. This is where our advantage comes.

I wrote recently that there is no advantage in man’s law and the same goes for working with those that are out for themselves and are not joyous in their work. I have to remember to look out for the character of those I look up to and be sure to imitate the faith and the character of those that are God fearing and live to glorify Him. That is where my advantage is found.

Who are you looking up to? Are you looking to gain from those that have gained for themselves? What if you instead focused on the character and faith of those who lead and gained your advantage from them?

I can’t tell you how many time have I followed man’s law only to find myself behind others that do not. It seems as though just getting by is worth more than following of man’s law. And as I have studied and written in the past, that is true even in following God.

“²Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.” – Galatians 5:2-3 (ESV)

Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia and is making it clear that the way to Christ is through faith in Him and not through the following of the law, specifically the law of circumcision here. I can see in the above verses that once I have caved to the law of man I am obligated to fully obey the law of man and become a slave to those laws throughout life.

Now I want to be clear, following Christ does not give me the freedom to ignore the law of man and I am still accountable to the consequences of breaking those laws. But what I am saying is that I am to keep my faith in God and allow Him to guide me in all that I do. If that guidance places upon me to take a position contrary to man’s law, then I should take the position God has for me and accept the consequences from man. I follow God and not man. I am not a slave to man and only accept the authority of man as provisioned by God.

The following of man’s law gives me no advantage in life. I gain nothing from it other than avoiding the punishment of man for not following the law of man. That punishment is temporary and is something that can and will be endured with the comfort and protection provided by God as a condition of my faith in Him. Take Paul for instance. He is writing to the churches in Galatia about keeping the faith and not following explicitly the law of man as he sits in prison for not following the law of man. He is content with his position as he knows that this punishment is only temporary and will fade as and when he goes to be with Jesus in heaven. He is not caving to the law of man to gain some advantage in this life as there is none to be had.

When you look out at what it is you are following, what reasons are you following them? Are you looking out to be sure and avoid the consequences that come for going against the law of man, or are you looking to simply follow through faith the law of God? What if you simply followed God and accepted that there is no advantage for following exclusively the law of man?