"The text for today is "Walk worthy of God who has called you into His kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2 12). The New Living Translation renders this; "Live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you into his Kingdom to share his glory."

It's in the light of this translation that we're going to look at it this morning. Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatian church, "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, it will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal 5. 22,23)

These fruits are the manifestation of the love that our Heavenly Father shows toward us and are the characteristics by which we, through the Holy Spirit's indwelling in us, should be recognised. Fruit is produced to be eaten not to be displayed or admired. People around us are starving for love, joy, peace and all the other fruits of the Spirit and when they find them in our lives and see them in our behaviour, they realise that we have something which they would like to have. We don't bear fruit for our own use, we bear it so that others may be fed and helped and so that our Heavenly Father may be glorified. As Paul wrote to the church in Colossae "We must clothe ourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends us. Remember, the Lord forgave us, so we must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing we must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony" (Colossians 3.12-14)

The Christian who behaves like this becomes the light that shines on the earth with a ray of the Glory of Heaven; the Salt brings flavour to people's lives. Jesus told us that "You can't get grapes from a thorn bush," and He also said that "If someone wants good fruit they must go to a good tree." This means that it's not much good telling someone what Jesus said we must do, or how he said we should behave, if we don't give an example to others by our own behaviour all the time. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words when you want to describe something to anyone.

There's a word picture that demonstrates this and it's been adapted from something that actually happened many years ago in Exeter. The curate of a city centre parish, noticed that an old man came into the church at about noon every day and sat in a pew. He only sat there about a minute or so, looking at the altar, then he went out again. By the condition of his clothes that were old and mended, and his general down at heel appearance, although he was always scrupulously clean, it was obvious that he was very poor. The curate began to be concerned that the man might be tempted into stealing one of the valuable altar pieces, so he spoke to the man and asked him why he came to the church.

When the old man said, "Oh I come to talk to my friend." The curate was rather taken aback. "But you always come alone. You never speak to anyone while you're here. You only stay about a minute and then go. What do you mean by saying you come to talk to your friend? What's going on? What are you up to?"

The old man smiled and said, "Oh I just come in and pray "Hello Jesus this is Gobi, how are you today? Then I go, because I don't need to say anymore. It's my friend. He knows all about me, all I need and what's best for me"

This went on for some time and then one day Gobi didn't come to church. The curate, who by now thought of him as someone special and not just someone who visited the church, thought that Gobi must have the flue or something. But as time went on and there was still no sign of Gobi, he began to be concerned and made some inquiries. Eventually he discovered that Gobi was in hospital and he went to see him. It appeared that Gobi was on his way home after visiting the church when he was involved in a bad accident and had been taken to the hospital where he was expected to have to stay bed-ridden for some time. He'd been put in a ward with a lot of other old men, some of whom were grumpy and depressed, while others were shouting for a nurse or complaining from morning till night, and at times their language was colourful to say the least. Yet in spite of all this Gobi always smiled, whatever was said, or whatever commotion the others were making. Gobi's corner was the one bright spot in an otherwise gloomy ward.

The nurses said that at first they were sorry for him and admired him because he never complained about his condition, his surroundings or about having to listen to language he quite obviously never used himself. They'd even tried to have him moved to a quieter ward. But now they were glad he was still with them because after he'd been there for a week or so, the other men began to be less noisy and more light-hearted. They complained a lot less and most of all their language began to change until there was hardly a word said out of place.

Curious about what had caused this change for the better, one of the nurses asked what had happened, and the men said "1t's because of Gobi, he never complains and he's always smiling." But when the nurse asked Gobi how he'd brought about this miracle he said "Oh, it's not me, it's my friend who visits me every day' "What friend?" the nurse asked, because she knew that Gobi had had no visitors since he'd been admitted to hospital

"Oh, every day about noon my Friend comes and stands at the end of the bed and says, "Hello Gobi, this is Jesus how are you today? That makes me happy." Gobi's cheerful, uncomplaining manner, his patient smile and the lack of adjectives in his speech, was the channel by which our Lord had brought peace and goodness into that small world in the hospital

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Would our normal behaviour be like Gobi's and influence worldly, non-believers to change their way of life or even to modify any colourful language they might use? Can we honestly say that God would consider our behaviour worthy of Him? If we were the judges, instead of God, could we honestly say that the way we're living our lives is really what should be expected of someone who wants to share God's glory? Gobi trod a different path than that used by the world: he marched to a different drumbeat but he was guided, by his Friend, Jesus, as he made his way along that pathway.

Now our Lord is asking us to walk a different road, it's a strange and narrow way, but He never sends us on ahead along a strange pathway alone. He has already blazed a clear way through every thicket and wood, and then calls softly, "Follow Me. Let's go on together, you and I. He has been everywhere that we're called upon to go. His feet have trodden down a smooth path through every experience that comes to us. He knows each road, and knows it well. The valley road of disappointment, with it's dark shadows is so intimidating; and yet He who the apostle John called the 'Light of the World' is forever with us, always near at hand, to still our fears and show a guiding light for our next step.

The steep pathway of temptation, down through rocky ravines and slippery gullies is where we only need to let our eyes stray from our goal, just to take one false step, and we could fall. But, if we trust in Him, He will protect us from any dangers. The narrow pathway of pain and sorrow has thorny bramble bushes on each side that cut, sting and leave wounds that seem as though they will never heal. He's travelled this way and understands but His healing hands will soothe away our anguish.

The high path along the dizzying heights of our successes that bring the praise of men can so easily make us forget to whom we owe those triumphs and persuade us that we don't need anyone else's help but our own. That path is very narrow and without His support it's a long way down to reality.

Even on the old, dusty, beaten track of dull and commonplace daily routine we feel that we should be used for better and higher things.. Every one of these paths He has trodden and glorified and He'll walk them again with each one of us. The only safe way to travel is with Him at our side and in control, so let's follow His call too;

Come, share the road with me, My own,
Through good and evil weather;
Two better speed than one alone,
So let's go on together.

Come, share the road with me, My own,
You know I'll never fail you,
And doubts and fears of the unknown
Shall never more assail you.

Come, share the road with me, My own,
I'll share your joys and sorrows.
And hand in hand we'll seek the throne
And God's great glad tomorrows.

Come, share the road with me, My own,
And where the black clouds gather,
I'll share thy load with thee, My son
And we'll pass on together.

And as we go we'll share also
With all who travel on it.
For all who share the road with Me
Must share with all upon it.

So make we - all one company,
Love's golden cord our tether,
And come what may, we'll climb the way
Together - aye together.

"Roadmates" by John Oxenham

Lord you have called us into your kingdom so help us we pray, as we walk the narrow way to live our lives in the way that You will consider worthy of those who are to share Your glory. Amen