Walking Worthy
"Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called."
Ephesians 4:1
I read this story online.
A guy was being tailgated by a stressed-out, angry woman on a busy street.
Suddenly, the light turned yellow just in front of him. He did the right thing. He stopped at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.
The tailgating woman behind him hit the roof and hit the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to go through the intersection behind him.
As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer.
The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station. She was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and actually placed in a cell.
After a couple of hours, another policeman approached the cell and opened the door. The woman was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting for her with her personal effects.
"Lady, I'm very sorry for this mistake,” he said. “I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping the guy off in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him.
“Then I noticed the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘What would Jesus do?’ bumper sticker, the ‘Follow me to Sunday school’ bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk.
“Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car."
More than a bumper sticker
It’s an old story and probably an urban myth. But every time I read it, I smile. And then I cringe…because it hits a little close to home.
You see, it doesn't help to have Jesus on my bumper sticker if I'm driving like the Devil.
It does not help to have Jesus on my trunk lid if he's not behind the wheel of my life.
It doesn't help to have Jesus on my bumper sticker if I'm driving like the Devil.
This idea of living a worthy life – a life that is honoring to God and pleasing to man was one of Paul’s regular themes in his letters.
Besides his warning to the Ephesians noted above, he echoed it to the Thessalonians…
"Walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." (I Thessalonians 2:12)
…the Colossians…
"Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10)
…and the Philippians…
"Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." (Philippians 1:27)
It’s hard to miss the Apostle’s point. He knew well that the gospel we seek to declare is first manifest in what we display.
Put another way, our deeds – both good and bad – validate our words. Like it or not we are witnesses at all times and in all places.
Our deeds – both good and bad – validate our words. Like it or not we are witnesses at all times and in all places.
Here are some examples of venues where, all too often, we fail the worthy walk test: watching a Little League game, playing in a softball game, during a round of golf, walking your dog.
You get the idea, don’t you? It’s in these unguarded moments that, all too often, we fall short.
Let me encourage you to remember the lady with road rage. You may not get pulled over by a police officer, but that doesn’t mean that people aren’t watching.
So, make sure the message we send is a positive one. One that glorifies the Savior we represent. One that will go far beyond a bumper sticker.
Prayer:
Lord, I’m so very grateful that I’ve been changed on the inside through my relationship with You. Yet, I must confess that there are way too many times when that relationship doesn’t show on the outside. Please forgive me for my inconsistencies. Help me to live worthy…and to walk the talk.
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