Back to Worthy by Susan L.

 This matter sits at the throne of judgement. Not God's throne, but the one we often seat ourselves at quite willingly. It's a terrible seat of assumed power that has the ability to rob us of so much. It's a terrible seat of assumed power that can rob others of so much should we decide to rule from that hateful place.
  Even though there are great leaders in the Scriptures who judged themselves unworthy of serving the Lord, in each case, God is quick to point out otherwise. There's Moses who argued with the Lord about what He asked Him to do. He went on to lead the Jewish people out of slavery. Isaiah wept about his lips and the sinful words he spoke. A seraphim quickly anointed those same lips and made them holy. He then went on to write one of the most prophetic books in the Old Testament. Paul felt he was unworthy of his calling since he had been a tax collector before the Lord met him on the road to Damascus. Yet, God created in him a wise teacher in the fledgling Christian faith whose books still touch lives today, nearly two thousand years later.
  It seems that when we judge ourselves unworthy, the gift of redemption is close at hand because God has deemed us worthy of salvation and saves us from ourselves.
  My old dictionary defines unworthy as: Not deserving. Not befitting or becoming. Lacking worth or merit. Shameful, contemptible. Doesn't that smack of judgement!
  It defined humility as: the state or quality of being humble. Humble is defined as: free from pride or vanity; modest. Lowly in station, modest. Servile, fawning. Respectful. Except for the servile and fawning which is based in deception, the rest follows what a Christian heart should be like.
  We've all seen actors and athletes receive rewards for their efforts. Yesterday's Superbowl victory at the hand of the aging quarterback, Peyton Manning, ended with him saying to the press, and I paraphrase, "It's time to spend time with my family and in prayer so I can thank the Big Man Upstairs for this opportunity." There were other groups of athletes on the winning team who quickly knelt together as a group in what I assume were prayers of thanksgiving.
  So, I say again, yes, we are worthy of all the good things God has planned for our lives. We may not be star athletes or great teachers but in Christ, and with a humble heart of gratitude, we all can shine.
  "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Eph 4:1-6