Live a Life Worthy

Over the last few months I've been reading Paul's letters to churches in the New Testament. I've noticed that in a few of them he says something to his readers about living a life worthy of the calling they had received.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (Ephesians 4:1)

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." (Philippians 1:27)

". . . so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord . . ." (Colossians 1:10)

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling . . ." (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

As I've read these words multiple times in different letters, the same questions have continued to run through my mind.

What does Paul mean by living a life worthy?

If the gospel is all about grace and not having to earn anything, why do we need to live a life worthy?

One of the things I like about Scripture is that there's always more to learn when we read it. This isn't the first time I've read these passages and thought about what they mean. And I'm sure it won't be the last.

The gospel is all about grace and that we can't earn God's coming to save us from our sin. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't change the way we live.

We don't live bound up by a bunch of rules. We are free from that through what Jesus did for us at the cross.

But, the very reality of what Jesus did for us should change the way we live. It should make us want to live our lives in a way that pleases God.

I think that is what Paul means when he writes these things. Even through we are free to do what we want, we should choose to and want to live a life that pleases God. And it's when we live in a way pleases God that we live a life worthy of God' calling of us.