HOW WE LIVE: Worthy of God

“We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:12

One of the most memorable movies from the 1990’s is Saving Private Ryan, starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon. In this movie, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) is tasked to retrieve a solider named Private Ryan (Matt Damon) whose brothers have both been killed in combat. SPOILER ALERT: At the end of the movie, Captain Miller is fatally shot in their rescue, and is left dying on the side of the road. As life starts to drain from his eyes, with his last breath he stares deeply at Private Ryan and utters the unforgettable phrase, “Earn this!”

Captain Miller had given Private Ryan the most precious gift he could offer: his own life. Private Ryan did nothing to deserve it. It was a priceless gift that was freely given to him without merit. It was now up to him to live the rest of his life in a way that was worthy of the priceless sacrifice given to him by Private Ryan.

In the same way, we have also received the most precious gift without merit: Christ has given his life, so we can live life abundantly (John 10:10), walk in righteousness (Romans 6:12-19), and abstain from evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). We have done nothing to earn this precious gift. The question now is, what are we going to do with it?

We have the free gift. The price has been paid. Our freedom purchased. We did no works to deserve it. What God requires of us in return is “to walk in a manner worthy of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). This does not mean that we are saved by our works, but our works are a reflection of our faith (James 2:26). Now, “Earn this!”