There is no greater honor than being a child of God.  All the blessings we enjoy in Christ are linked to the fact that we are God’s children, including the promise of an eternal inheritance in heaven. Being God’s children, we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).  It is a great privilege to be a child of God.  The question is, are we living a life worthy of such a privilege?   Paul exhorts us to walk worthy of our calling.

Ephesians 4:1 (ESV)
¹  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

The word urge means to implore or beg.  Paul is pleading with us to walk worthy of our calling.  We were called by the gospel to obtain the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:14).  In ver. 13 of 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul emphasizes that we were saved by the sanctification of the Spirit.  When we obeyed the gospel of Christ, as revealed to us by the Spirit, not only did we become a part of God’s spiritual family, but we also were set apart from the world or sanctified.

While our initial sanctification is accomplished by the Spirit, through the saving power of the gospel, it is our responsibility to continue to live a sanctified life.  Paul was speaking of this sanctification when he wrote, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).  What promises was Paul referring to in this passage?  We read of it in the last verse of chapter 6.  “And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me…” (2 Corinthians 6:18).  What is the condition that must be met?  Live a sanctified life.

Walking worthy as a child of God involves active participation in good works.

Colossians 1:10 (KJV)
¹⁰  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Paul tells us that walking worthy in a way that pleases God involves two things.  First, we must be “bearing fruit in every good work.”  What is good work?  It is the work that God tells us to do through His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
¹⁶  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The scriptures equip us for every good work.  We must be careful that we do not try to please God by doing work that man thinks is pleasing to God but does not have any scriptural support.  When we do the work that God tells us to do, we will bear the fruit that He wants us to bear, and we will be walking as children of God should.  Remember, if we do not bear good fruit, Jesus said we are not good for anything (spiritually speaking) except to be cast into the fire (John 15:4-6).

The second way Paul said we are to please the Lord is by increasing in the knowledge of God.  Doing God’s will is a part of pleasing Him.  Only those who do the will of God will make it to heaven (Matthew 7:21).  However, we cannot do God’s will if we do not know what it is.  Conversely, the more knowledge we have of God and His Word, the more we can do for Him.

Does your life demonstrate that you appreciate the great honor of being a child of God?  Are you walking worthily?  This is the only path that leads to the presence of God.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.