“The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” – 1 John 2:6
The idea of walking as Christ walked can be intimidating to a Christian. After all, the sinless Son of God, Himself fully God, who gave up everything to serve and save rebellious mankind, set an exceedingly high standard. Nothing short of perfection and total sacrifice will do. However, while we recognize that we will never fully achieve Christlikeness on this side of glory, we have “therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” – Colossians 2:6.
There are several specific commands in the New Testament that describe such a walk.
First and foremost, we must “walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us.” – Ephesians 5:2 .
We are to “walk by the Spirit” – Galatians 5:16 “and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” – Galatians 5:25.
The empowering of the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to “walk worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:12. If we desire to spend eternity in His presence, we should ‘walk the walk’ even now.
Since we are dead to sin and alive in Christ “so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:4.
“We walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 “…taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” – Ephesians 6:16.
It gives us the unity of the Spirit – “I…implore you to walk in manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:1. “…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…” – Ephesians 6:15.
Since “now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” – Ephesians 5:8-10. “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:7.
We must ‘walk in the truth’ – 3 John 1:4 and in “honesty” – Romans 13:13. “…not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth…” – 2 Corinthians 4:2.
Our walk must be living by example and always doing what is right – in other words, we must walk righteously: “For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them.” – Hosea 14:9.
This walk will be evident to all by our “good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” – Ephesians 2:10. The Lord God set purposes for each and every one of us to accomplish, for His glory, if we would but listen to Him. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 directly refers to this. Do something for the Lord today, and every day. Here are a few suggestions and there are so many more: pray for others, spread the Gospel, worship and glorify the Lord, pray for others, be kind to a stranger – even if you just smile (even if you’re wearing a mask, your eyes still light up), pray for others, comfort one another, just be there, visit a senior, pray for others, support the homeless and abused, play with a child, sing praises to the Lord, call a friend, donate your time and money to worthwhile causes and your local church. “Pray without ceasing” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
We must make the most of our opportunities as we “walk not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” – Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5.
“…that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” – Colossians 1:9-10 ‘Bearing fruit’ is a metaphor for producing results with our good works, righteous acts and service for the Lord.
Such a victorious walk might be its own reward; but there is more.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts.” – Zechariah 3:7. This Old Testament Scripture reflects the Book of Revelation verse, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge…they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4.
Those who walk in His Way are blessed indeed: “How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.” – Psalm 128:1. “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.” – Psalm 119:1. “I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you.” – Deuteronomy 30:16.
And there are even more blessings. We have heard this Scripture from Paul: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9. Paul was quoting from the great prophet, Isaiah, 64:4. Things which are repeated in the Bible hold extra importance.
” ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’ ” – Luke 9:23
Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, has said of those who overcome that “ ‘they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy’ ” – Revelation 3:4.
.“Ye shall walk after the Lord your God,
and fear him,
and keep his commandments,
and obey his voice,
and ye shall serve him,
and cleave unto him.”
– Deuteronomy 13:4
Click here for the article describing who the Overcomer is: Overcomes
Click here for the inspiring poem: Ye call Me ‘Lord’
Walk as He Walked
