Elder Ko Swee Chay

                                                                                                                                             Walk with God in God’s Way
                                                                                                                                                              (Part 3C of 3)

Introduction
Part 1 of 3 of this article printed in Pandan News Weekly on 10 July 2016 covered five aspects of walking with God, namely: "walk in all His ways"; "walk in the light"; "walk in newness of life"; "walk in the Spirit" and "walk by faith". Part 2 of 3 of this article printed on 11 Sept 2016 covered the next five aspects, namely: "walk as children of light"; "walk circumspectly"; "walk in love"; "walk in truth" and "walk in wisdom". Part 3A of 3 printed on 13 Nov 2016 covered the next three aspects, namely: "walk uprightly"; "walk humbly"; and "walk honestly". Part 3B of 3 printed on 8 Jan 2017 covered "walk worthy of the vocation" (Eph 4:1-3).
This Part 3C of 3 covers "walk worthy of God" (1 Thess 2:12, Col 1:10). This concludes the study on the theme "Walk with God in God’s Way".
To recap, in the Bible, "walking" is used symbolically or figuratively to indicate a believer’s relationship with God, his spiritual state, how he lives, and how he conducts his life in a consistent and transparent manner. Walking with God ought to be according to God’s prescribed way and standard given in the Holy Scriptures in order to be accepted of God and ensure that we do not walk in vain.

Walk worthy of God
"11As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12That ye walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." (1 Thess 2:11-12).

"9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will and in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Col 1:9-12).

As a father would do to his children, Paul charged the Thessalonians to "walk worthy of God who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory" (1 Thess 2:12) and prayed for the believers at Colossae to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing" (Col 1:10). The focus of 1 Thess 2:12 and Col 1:10 is on increasing in the knowledge of God, continuous spiritual growth and fruitfulness, which are the result of being filled with the knowledge of God’s will through fellowship with Him by means of His Word and prayer, and the working of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The compelling reason to "walk worthy of God" is to be consistent and fitting with what God has done for us – God the Father "hath called us to His kingdom and glory" (1 Thess 2:12) and "hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col 1:12). What a great and wonderful gospel privilege. Therefore, our reasonable duty is to walk worthy of God, that is, to live our lives in a manner that is fitting, pleasing and honouring to our Lord God Almighty.

In Colossians 1:9-12, Paul described four spiritual qualities of a worthy walk that pleases God, namely, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might and giving thanks unto the Father. These spiritual qualities are written in present participles; signifying they are ongoing and continuous. Obviously there are other Christ-like and God-pleasing spiritual qualities in the Bible that believers should manifest, but these four should be found in a true believer who is filled with the knowledge of God’s will, wisdom and spiritual understanding. Let us have a closer look at each of these evidences of walking worthy of God:

a. Being fruitful in every good work
Paul prayed for the believers at Colossae to continuously bear fruit in every work (service) that is good in the sight of God. This concept of "bearing fruit" and "fruitfulness" is widely taught in the Bible. In John 15:1-7, the doctrine of fruit bearing was explained by our Lord Jesus Christ himself. In John 15:5, Jesus said "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." This taught us to depend on Christ, the source of strength and energy, to do good work and bear fruit, not on our own strength, ability, knowledge and experience. Every part of our life, or work or service that we render will only be considered good if it is done according to the will of God and is holy and acceptable unto God. It is not based on man’s desire and measurement. Works done with wrong motives (e.g. seeking personal glory, gain, recognition and reward) and by our own energy and strength do not please God. The fruitfulness includes: i) all the Christian virtues of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Gal 5:22: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance and those mentioned elsewhere in the Bible such as lowliness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, vigilance, sobriety, hospitality; ii) all worship in praises, the adoration of God in spiritual hymns and psalms, in prayer and thanksgiving, the giving of tithe and offering; iii) all the ministry and service for others: preaching, teaching, witnessing, visitation, tracting, hospitality, helping and supporting others through deeds of kindness and compassion etc.

b. Increasing in the knowledge of God
The knowledge of God is what every Christian ought to diligently acquire and possess in order to know how to walk worthy of God, unto all pleasing. The knowledge of God can only be found in the Bible, which is God’s Word, the Word of everlasting life. Diligent and consistent reading, studying, meditating and memorizing of God’s Word and hearing of God’s Word taught and preached by Preachers and Pastors will work towards helping us to increase in the knowledge of God. Every believer should recognize the need and be committed to grow in the knowledge of God. When we study and hear God’s Word, our knowledge of God will surely increase; and we will "be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." (Col 1:9). Knowing God’s Word will result in knowing God’s will that manifests itself properly in the ability to apply it to life’s situations. The study of God’s Word is a life-long endeavour which will only come to an end when we breathe our last breath.

c. Being strengthened with all might
Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Surely and certainly we are no match against the evil forces of this world which are working night and day to tempt, attack and destroy Christians and churches. Paul did not exhort Christians to live holy lives pleasing to God without assuring them that God will give the strength according to His glorious power. Paul described in Col 1:12 another aspect of walking worthy of God which is that we are "being strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." We are not to trust in ourselves, our background and education, our knowledge and experience, our abilities and talents, our money and possession, but we are to look to God for strength by faith. God will surely strengthen us for His power is supreme and His grace is all sufficient for any difficulty, persecution or evil opponent we might face in our walk with God. The end result of experiencing God’s power in the life of a believer manifests itself in patient endurance and longsuffering with joyfulness. Patient endurance is often used with reference to circumstances and longsuffering with people. By God’s glorious power, Christians are strengthened to endure hardships, tribulations and difficult circumstances, and show patience towards others, with joyfulness.

d. Giving thanks unto the Father
As evidenced in his epistles, Paul is full of praise and thanksgiving to God the Father, in spite of the numerous hardships, challenges, persecutions and tribulations he encountered in his ministry, even stoning and imprisonment. Five times in the book of Colossians, he expressed thanksgiving to God the Father: Col 1:3, 1:12, 2:7, 3:17 and 4:2. Also in 1 Thess 5:18 he wrote: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." The same can be said about king David as evidenced in the Psalms that he wrote, examples include Psalms 100, 103 and 105. After experiencing the abundant grace, mercy and goodness of God in loving us and saving us out of sin, death and hell into His kingdom and glory, it is natural and befitting for us to have a thankful heart, to praise and to give thanks to God for all that He has done in our life. Learning to live by thanksgiving and praise is a key element in all areas of the believer’s life because it shifts our focus from ourselves to Almighty God. A walk that is worthy of God and that pleases Him is a thankful walk that acknowledges the amazing grace, great mercy and marvelous love of God without ceasing; a walk without murmurs and complaints, but full of praise and thanksgiving to God regardless of the situation and circumstances.

Conclusion
By His marvellous love, great mercy, and wonderful and amazing grace, God has called us into His kingdom and glory in and through our Lord Jesus Christ. After our salvation, God keeps us on this earth to live for Him. God commanded us to live a holy and godly life whereby we can be an effective example and be His testimony for the unsaved world. In the Bible, God has instructions for various aspects of walking with Him. Clearly God requires His redeemed children to walk with Him according to His prescribed way and standard for their own good and blessing while on earth. As a born again Christian, there is no other way but to walk with God in God’s way, for He is our heavenly Father, He is our Creator, our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Protector and our Provider. Amos 3:3 says "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
We must diligently read, study and meditate on the Word of God, be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, and know how we should walk with God. We must faithfully keep and wholeheartedly obey the instructions and commandments of God without wavering under all circumstances and no matter what. We must purpose in our heart and be mindful to walk as children of the light and in the Spirit, walk by faith and circumspectly, walk in love in truth and in wisdom, walk uprightly humbly and honestly. The bottom line is to walk worthy of the vocation (calling) and walk worthy of God, pleasing and acceptable to Him. May God grant us His grace and strength to fulfil these divine requirements. May God help us to fear Him and to keep His commandment, for this is the whole duty of man. AMEN.