"Being Worthy"

“Being Worthy”

 

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.        Philippians 1:27

 

The Apostle Paul had been arrested, and was in chains.  He was distressed, because, he didn’t know what his fate would be.  For Paul, to DIE would be GAIN, then he would be FREE from all the PERSECUTIONS and HARDSHIPS, which he OFTEN encountered.  But for him to LIVE would be SPIRITUALLY BENEFICIAL for the Philippian BELIEVERS.  So Paul was willing to STAY in the BODY, and SUFFER for the cause of CHRIST, then to DIE and be taken up to his Heavenly reward.

 

However, the choice was NOT the Apostle’s to make.  He was concerned for the TRUE BELIEVERS at Philippi, and so he exhorted them to CONDUCT or LIVE their lives in a MANNER that was WORTHY of the Gospel of Christ.  This charge of Paul’s is the RESPONSIBILITY of EACH TRUE BELIEVER, as much NOW as it was then. 

 

The charge was that they first MUST STAND FIRM, in ONE SPIRIT.  In other words, they MUST be STEADFAST, and NOT WAVERING in their FAITH.  They MUST WORK, STRIVING TOGETHER, for the FAITH of the GOSPEL.  They should be BOLD and NOT FRIGHTENED in any way, by those who come AGAINST them.  They MUST POSSESS a STRONG FAITH.  One that will get them through their HARDSHIPS and PERSECUTIONS when they come, and they will COME. 

 

The question is:  “Is your FAITH STRONG ENOUGH to see you through, when the STORMS of life beat you down, and the devil tells you, “It’s NOT WORTH IT?”  Are you WILLING to TRULY SUFFER for the cause of Christ?  You are NOT ALONE in this battle, it SHOULD BE the BODY of CHRIST, WORKING TOGETHER, SUPPORTING each other, and NOT WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER.  We are NOT in COMPETITION with each other.  We are a LOVING FAMILY, who FEELS the PAIN when a BROTHER or SISTER in Christ, is hurting, or FEELS the JOY when they are REJOICING.  

 

These are the TRUE MARKS of BEING WORTHY of the GOSPEL of CHRIST.   Where do YOU stand?  Are you WORTHY?  If you have NOT TRULY GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to God, then YOU are LOST and DESTINED to spend an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  God in His INIFINITE MERCY, and His AMAZING GRACE wants you to come to Him, and receive the HOPE of HEAVEN, and to JOIN His LOVING FAMILY.  In order to do that, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, then become a part of His LOVING FAMILY, and WORK at being WORTHY of the Gospel of Christ.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!