Earn This

Earn This

worthy

James Francis Ryan is the last surviving brother of four – the other three killed in action while serving the United States of America during World War II.  In order to spare Ryan’s mother the unspeakable tragedy of losing all four of her sons to the same war, Captain Miller and a group of eight soldiers accept the mission to find Private Ryan wherever he may be in the danger-ridden French country and to get him home safely.  While ultimately successful, this tragic mission ends up taking the lives of almost all members of the mini-squadron.  They all die – not to win a war, nor to take down evil, and not for some grand and glorious worldwide purpose – but simply so that one man can live.  As their mission draws to a close, the rescued Private Ryan is with one of his rescuers, Captain Miller, as Miller takes his final few breaths.  The dying captain pulls the young man close to him, and says these last words: “Earn this…earn it.”

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:9-10a).  Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.  Elsewhere, the Paul likewise writes, “Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27).  Be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

As I read this plea and this prayer of Paul, I cannot help but imagine a scene in which each of us – the rescued – is with with our rescuer, Jesus Christ, as He too, like Captain Miller, takes His final few breaths.  It is almost as if Paul wants his readers to imagine then that as we draw near to the foot of the cross with the ultimate mission successfully completed, that Jesus looks down on us, and says with His last words: “Earn this…earn it.  “Walk in a manner worthy of this.”

Before the Lord’s Supper, one of the brethren will very often share these words from I Corinthians 11:27-29:

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

When I then hear their subsequent words of reflection about these verses, it is pretty clear that the “worthy manner” has a whole lot to do with properly remembering and honoring Jesus and His sacrifice while partaking of the Lord’s Supper.  “You better have Him in your mind and in your heart during this time,” they say.  “That’s the worthy manner.”  Therefore, take that, and apply it to the earlier text from Colossians 1, and what do you got?  You have Paul saying, “You know the worthy manner of how you partake of the Lord’s Supper – how what Jesus has done for you is the motivation, the reflection, the examination, the appreciation, and the drive for it all?!?  Take that worthy manner…and now apply it to your whole life.  Let everything be done in full gratefulness, commemoration, respect, and honor to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!  Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, for He is worthy.

So, you will honor your parents, not because your parents are worthy, but instead because He who was betrayed and arrested in order to rescue you – because He is worthy.

You will respect your siblings, not because they are worthy, but instead because He who was spat upon and slapped in order to rescue you – because He is worthy.

You will care for your spouse, not because he/she is worthy, but instead because He who was mocked and humiliated to rescue you – because He is worthy.

You will cherish your friends, not because they are worthy, but instead because He whose flesh was beaten and ripped apart to rescue you – because He is worthy.

And you will love your enemies, most definitely not because they are worthy, but instead because He whose hands and feet were nailed to the cross to rescue you – because He alone is worthy.