Walking With God
This week, I'd like for us to take a look at learning how to walk with God, and what this means in our daily life. We'll try to take the perspective of a child learning to walk, and the steps involved, and use God's word to help us understand the process, because we are His children, and, just as a baby must learn to walk, so we must learn to walk in His ways.
Just as a child must learn to stand before they can learn to walk, so we must first learn to stand. The process of standing involves first getting up, and then having something firm on which to stand, or one cannot maintain their balance. Paul tells us in Romans 5:1-2..."Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Our foundation is firm when we stand on the Rock. We stand in grace, and in peace, when we lean on Jesus. Without Him, we cannot stand. His sacrifice has given us peace and freedom to stand, as we read in Galatians 5:1..."Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
In order to walk, one must not only be able to stand, but also to remain standing. It is only with the help of God that we can stand firm, and remain faithful, in a world so filled with wickedness. We read in Ephesians 6:11-13..."Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Now that we are standing on a firm foundation, and getting stronger in the Lord, we must begin to take steps forward. Just as a father teaching his child to walk, God is there with us, holding onto our hands as we take our first wobbly steps, and, unstable and unsteady as we may be, He will not let go. Psalms 18:36 tells us..."Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip." Like a young child taking their first steps, we will inevitably fall. However, we have a Father who is there to pick us up and set us back on our feet once again. Psalms 37:23-24 tells us..."The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." And we read in Psalms 119:133..."Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." We must lean on the Lord not only for strength, but also for guidance. Jeremiah 10:23 tells us..."O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
To change the direction of one's life, and to step from the paths of darkness into the path of light, can prove to be a difficult transition. As we begin to walk with God, we will be faced with many temptations and trials. Often times it seems as if we are being intentionally targeted, because this is exactly the case. Satan is going to do all that he can to pull us off of the path of light. He will set traps and snares, and try to get inside of our heads, in an effort to make us stumble. So, how are we to avoid these obstacles and pitfalls on the path? Ephesians 5:8 tells us..."For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." It is in how we walk, but more importantly, who we walk with, that will determine our success or failure. 1 John 1:6-7 tells us... "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin." We cannot be dependent upon our own convictions, or our own strength, to keep us on the path of righteousness, but rather continually pray for purity, for wisdom and direction, as well as for God's provision. We read in Psalms 84:11..."...the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." It is only when we trust in God for our guidance and stability that our steps are secure. We read in Proverbs 3:23..."Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble."
We read in 2 Corinthians 5:7..."For we walk by faith, not by sight." What does it mean for us to walk by faith? And, how can we walk by something other than sight? The concept in itself seems perplexing. For those of us who can see to close our eyes and try to walk would be disastrous. Obviously, this verse is not meant literally, but rather, in a figurative sense. It refers to the fact that we serve a God that cannot be seen with human eyes, and therefore, our faith sustains our belief. Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:6..."But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." The faith that we have in this life will be rewarded by sight when we reach eternal life. Our faith has been given to us as a gift, as we read in Ephesians 2:8-9..."For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." When this life is over, when we have finished our course, we can look forward to an eternal home in heaven, as Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:7-8..."I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Eliza E. Hewitt wrote the hymn "When We All Get To Heaven" in 1898, and it has been sung countless times in thousands of churches all over the world. The lyrics of this beloved old hymn seem to tie all these thoughts together in a beautiful way...
"Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He'll prepare for us a place. When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory! While we walk the pilgrim pathway, clouds will overspread the sky; But when trav'lling days are over, not a shadow, not a sigh. Let us then be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory, will the toils of life repay. Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we'll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold."
Just as a child must learn to stand before they can learn to walk, so we must first learn to stand. The process of standing involves first getting up, and then having something firm on which to stand, or one cannot maintain their balance. Paul tells us in Romans 5:1-2..."Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Our foundation is firm when we stand on the Rock. We stand in grace, and in peace, when we lean on Jesus. Without Him, we cannot stand. His sacrifice has given us peace and freedom to stand, as we read in Galatians 5:1..."Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
In order to walk, one must not only be able to stand, but also to remain standing. It is only with the help of God that we can stand firm, and remain faithful, in a world so filled with wickedness. We read in Ephesians 6:11-13..."Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."Now that we are standing on a firm foundation, and getting stronger in the Lord, we must begin to take steps forward. Just as a father teaching his child to walk, God is there with us, holding onto our hands as we take our first wobbly steps, and, unstable and unsteady as we may be, He will not let go. Psalms 18:36 tells us..."Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip." Like a young child taking their first steps, we will inevitably fall. However, we have a Father who is there to pick us up and set us back on our feet once again. Psalms 37:23-24 tells us..."The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." And we read in Psalms 119:133..."Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." We must lean on the Lord not only for strength, but also for guidance. Jeremiah 10:23 tells us..."O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
To change the direction of one's life, and to step from the paths of darkness into the path of light, can prove to be a difficult transition. As we begin to walk with God, we will be faced with many temptations and trials. Often times it seems as if we are being intentionally targeted, because this is exactly the case. Satan is going to do all that he can to pull us off of the path of light. He will set traps and snares, and try to get inside of our heads, in an effort to make us stumble. So, how are we to avoid these obstacles and pitfalls on the path? Ephesians 5:8 tells us..."For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." It is in how we walk, but more importantly, who we walk with, that will determine our success or failure. 1 John 1:6-7 tells us... "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin." We cannot be dependent upon our own convictions, or our own strength, to keep us on the path of righteousness, but rather continually pray for purity, for wisdom and direction, as well as for God's provision. We read in Psalms 84:11..."...the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." It is only when we trust in God for our guidance and stability that our steps are secure. We read in Proverbs 3:23..."Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble."
We read in 2 Corinthians 5:7..."For we walk by faith, not by sight." What does it mean for us to walk by faith? And, how can we walk by something other than sight? The concept in itself seems perplexing. For those of us who can see to close our eyes and try to walk would be disastrous. Obviously, this verse is not meant literally, but rather, in a figurative sense. It refers to the fact that we serve a God that cannot be seen with human eyes, and therefore, our faith sustains our belief. Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:6..."But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." The faith that we have in this life will be rewarded by sight when we reach eternal life. Our faith has been given to us as a gift, as we read in Ephesians 2:8-9..."For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." When this life is over, when we have finished our course, we can look forward to an eternal home in heaven, as Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:7-8..."I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Eliza E. Hewitt wrote the hymn "When We All Get To Heaven" in 1898, and it has been sung countless times in thousands of churches all over the world. The lyrics of this beloved old hymn seem to tie all these thoughts together in a beautiful way...
"Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He'll prepare for us a place. When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory! While we walk the pilgrim pathway, clouds will overspread the sky; But when trav'lling days are over, not a shadow, not a sigh. Let us then be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory, will the toils of life repay. Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we'll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold."
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