Scripture describes the relationship people have with God as a walk:
- From the beginning, Genesis mentions specific people as having walked with God. (Gen. 5:22; 6:9; 48:15)
- Jesus invites us to follow Him, to walk in His footsteps. (1 Pet. 2:21)
- We are commanded to walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16)
- We are implored to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called” (Eph. 4:1, NASB).
What makes the Christian Life a Walk?
When we stop to think about what’s required in order to physically walk, we can draw some parallels to the Christian life.
1) It’s a process.
Walking requires that we put one foot in front of the other. Likewise, spiritual growth is a process, not an instantaneous event.
2) It’s a process requiring balance.
When babies begin learning to walk, they struggle with the balance needed to stay upright. They often fall and need to get up and try again. Similarly, spiritual infants find balance as they take those steps toward Christ who will keep picking them up as they learn to walk in Him.
3) It’s a process that requires movement in addition to maintaining balance.
While we can walk in place, most walking involves moving forward, making steady progress, as we go from one destination to another. Spiritual maturity only happens as we keep growing. To stand still is to become lethargic and sluggish in the Christian life.
4) It’s a process requiring faith to maintain balance while we move.
When we walk we lift one foot off the ground, keeping our balance on the other foot, trusting that the other foot will hold us upright. Without faith, it’s impossible to please God but also to truly walk the walk (Heb. 11).
5) It’s a process requiring communication from the head, our brain.
Our brains control how our bodies function, relaying messages to our legs through our central nervous system. A blockage of some sort can affect the way we walk. Unless we, as believers, yield to the Head, Jesus Christ, our Christian walk will never be what it should, or could, be.
For some, the process of walking in a manner worthy of our Lord, is a struggle. We’ll look at that in the next post.
Thought we is to run the race.
Jake, Scripture uses various ways of describing the Christian life. Walking is one but as you mentioned, so is running. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” 1 Corinthians 9:24 exhorts us to “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” — In essence, the same requirements mentioned in this post hold true for running. We are simply moving faster and exerting more energy. It adds a layer of understanding about the Christian life beyond what mere walking does. The verses about running remind us that like running a race, we have spectators …. a testimony to uphold. And, there’s reward.
I love how this was speaking to my heart and it’s true God’s word I know I struggle in my Christian walk and I know I’ve been a Christian for years and I still stumble and fall and I can’t seem to grow my name is Dwayne so please pray for me
How good God has used this to speak to your heart, Dwayne. God may be saying to you, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10) — Sometimes we just need to get to know Him better and better. As we do, our trust and devotion to Him develops more and more. When that happens, we begin to grow, sometimes without realizing it. None of us will ever be perfect in our walk. We’re on a journey that’s about the process, not a mere destiny. As the Apostle Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Phil. 3:12)