Living Worthy

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ….” 

—Philippians 1:27

The task of evangelism has been summed up as one beggar telling another beggar where to find food. The Bible calls all people “sinners,” a term used to show each one of us in a state of equality, all alike under God’s wrath and judgment. However, when one becomes a Christian, there is a qualitative change that happens; the status of that person has gone from beggar to royalty in a moment. And because of that change, we cannot continue in the state we were in—we are different, transformed, and must conduct our lives in a manner that is conducive to that change.

Allow me to illustrate. In the film Saving Private Ryan, Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) is a soldier whose four brothers were killed in June 1944 during WWII within days of each other. The military had put provisions in place that if one family suffered so many casualties, then the remaining family member would be removed from battle. Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) is ordered to take his squad behind enemy lines on a dangerous mission to find and retrieve Private Ryan. Eight men are sent to rescue one. The story culminates with Ryan being rescued at the expense of other characters’ lives. At the end of the movie, we see Private Ryan, now an old man, standing at the grave of one of the men who gave his life for him so many years ago. He says to his wife,

Old James Ryan: Tell me I have led a good life.
Ryan's Wife: What?
Old James Ryan: Tell me I'm a good man.
Ryan's Wife: You are.

What was it that captivated this man so many years ago? It was that others had given their lives for him and he wanted to make sure that he led a life worthy of the great sacrifice they had made. Christ has died for us. He saw us as we were and still chose to die on our behalf. He rescued us so that we might no longer live for our sinful desires and ourselves. He saved us so that we might live for Him and show the world through our lives how much we value Him. What great love! Let us love in such a way as He did, not in an effort to repay, but in a spirit of gratitude and joy, delighting in Him as He now delights in us. Amen.