March Madness. I got a chance to watch one of the NCAA college basketball tournament games last week. The game was intense, it went right down to the final minute. One of the things I noticed was that if a player wasn't doing well the coach would pull him out and put someone else on the court in his place. This is a fairly common sports strategy called substitution. If one player isn't cutting it then the coach will pull him out. Or we could say if the coach thinks he isn't worthy to be out there fulfilling his purpose on the team he should sit down.

It makes me think of a passage in Ephesians. "Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God." (Eph. 4:1) As Paul writes from prison in Rome he identifies himself as a prisoner for the Lord. Then he writes out some of the most challenging words in Ephesians....live a life worthy of your calling..

As a believer in Christ and a child of God we are saved and set apart for a new purpose. God has given us new life in Christ Jesus, he has also given us a new purpose. Our life is no longer under the powers of darkness, the law or even our flesh. We have been given freedom to live a life worthy of the salvation we have received. Our calling is based on the work of Christ in our life to give us a new identity. Since we have been given all spiritual blessings and freedom in Christ we must now walk in a manner worthy of it.

Are you living a life worthy of what God has done for you?

The beautiful assurance is that we don't have to live worthy to be accepted by God, but we should live worthy because we already are accepted by God.

Paul goes on to give us some help as to what living worthy should look like; "be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:2-3)

Being completely humble means this life is not about you. It's about God. You must have love; anything don't without love is incomplete. Living worthy doesn't mean living alone. We need unity with each other and unity with God.

Live worthy.

-Josh