The word Child of God has been abused and devalued. God wants worthy children, not children. Although we may wear the badge of a child of God, we may not in truth be what God expects of us. What we wear is camouflaged honour. God’s search light will expose us one day. Mark 4: 22; Luke 8: 17, say for there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor anything secret, except to come to light.
All human beings are children but not all of us are worthy children of God. Jesus said in John 10: 16, I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. A worthy child is the one who is faithful to his father. In order to be worthy of God, we must love him above all things. Matthew 10: 37-38 say whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Worthy children will take up the cross in sacrifice for others. Most of us deride vehemently the way of the cross contrary to what Jesus said in Matthew 10: 30, whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He also said in Mark 8: 34; Luke 9: 23… if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Each of us has his cross to carry yet we have declined that call because it involves pain, shame, discomfort and sacrifice. What are the other ways to be worthy children of God?
We must keep integrity
Proverbs 20: 7 says the righteous walk in integrity –happy are the children who follow them. We have sacrificed our integrity to worldly pleasure. Integrity has no substitute and it encompasses living a holy life. God said of integrity as found in David in 1 Kings 9: 4, walked with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my ordinances. Proverbs 28: 18 says one who walks in integrity will be safe. Integrity also includes turning from iniquity in Malachi 2: 6. Integrity is acting by the conscience which God has given to each of us.
We must be trustworthy
Proverbs 11: 13 says… one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps confidence. God will not entrust his power to those he does not trust. We need to gain the Lord’s confidence so he can use us as he did with Samuel, a foreigner to the priestly family. Jesus said in the parable of the talents in Luke 19: 17 well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities. (For the full story, read Luke 19: 12-27) In order to be trustworthy children, we must grow in the knowledge of God to know his likes and dislikes.
We must show gratitude to God
God expects us to be grateful to him as the provider. Jacob was quick to acknowledge his shortcoming before God in Genesis 32: 10, I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant. Jesus said to the Samaritan leper he healed together with nine others in Luke 17: 17 were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Worthy children must show gratitude to the father for his care.
We must be doers of the word
God wants us to be doers of the word, not mere hearers. As his children, we must do his will. James 1:22 says be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For, if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror. We fail to be doers sometimes because of our inward desires. Acts 5: 41 says as they (the apostles) left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. This was after the disciples had been arrested and flogged for preaching Jesus. A worthy child will pursue the noble objectives and instructions of his father and that is counted as obedience.
We must bear fruit of repentance
Bearing fruit involves sacrificing for Jesus. However, Romans 8: 17 says… we suffer with him (Jesus) so that we may also be glorified with him. The fruit of repentance is a life that glorifies God. Repentance must come with the fruit of repentance. Matthew 3: 8; Luke 3: 8 says bear fruit worthy of repentance. Jesus said in Matthew 7: 16, 20 you will know them by their fruits. Some fruits listed in Galatians 5: 22-23 include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fruitfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Other fruits in Philippian 4: 8 include the pursuit of excellence. To bear fruit, Galatians 5: 25 says, if we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit in order to bear fruit.
We must be ready to work for Jesus
As God’s children, we must work for him. In the parable of the prodigal son, when he realized his shortfall said to his father in Luke 15: 19, I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands. He was ready to make up for what he had wasted. Philippians 1: 27 says live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul’s prayer for his convents in 2 Thessalonians 1: 11, to this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call. Jesus came for our redemption. Luke 19: 10 says for the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. Jesus said in John 12: 47, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. Are we ready to work for Jesus?
We must always wait upon God
Waiting upon Jesus shows not only our dependence on him but our trust in him to guide us. It makes us worthy of his unfailing love. We wait upon the Lord trusting in his decisions for our good. Proverbs 3: 5-6 say, trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. God rewards those who wait on him. Isaiah 40: 31 says those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. We will faint in battle if we do not wait on God for guidance. God is not limited or handicap in knowledge. Lamentations 3: 25-26 state, the LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. Are we worthy children of God?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, make us worthy of your calling as your children. We surrender unto your will. Let your will be done in our lives. Wash away our sin of disobedience by which we have drifted away from you and wasted your grace. Help us to know you more in your holy name, Amen!!
Send us your prayer request so we may join you in prayer
0 Comments