so, why live this worthy life? why would Paul feel compelled to write such an admonition? certainly, first and foremost, that we would honor God with our lives. that we would bring honor to our Father, if it is not now, it ought to, and for many of us His honor will become for us the primary motive to live worthily - that by being in consistent and constant "...view of God's mercy" toward us (rom 12:1), having experienced with Him "encouragement, comfort, fellowship, tenderness and compassion" (phil 2:1-2) it would be ours to gladly, with thanks, come to want to please and honor the One who has done and is doing so much for us... and this, when we were His enemies (no less - rom 5). but there is another reason... having received such a gift as we have, we now, especially when rightly expressing our thanks, shine like stars in the universe - so, like a star, brilliant in its own right, is seen on the backdrop of the black depths of the expanse of space, and are there, accentuated. so we are, Christ in us, brilliant in His own right, living here, having filled us with the light of God through His work, living here in the depth of the expanse that is this black, of this sin stained world, accentuated... having Christ in us, now, living a life worthy (eph 5:8; phil 2:14-16) ...that those that don't know, those living in that darkness, might see and come to know the One who shines so brilliantly (isa 9:2; matt 4:16; luke 1:79; john 1:4-5,9; 1pet 2:9)
... broken pieces, brought together by God's gracious and skillful hands to make something beautiful.
We have Tony's outline as well as handouts available on our website! http://mosaicmansfield.com/messages-notes/. Or you can check out the live event on YouVersion with references and the ability to add your own notes! https://www.bible.com/events/85923