Morning By Morning #314

So walk in him.

Colossians 2:6 ESV

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

If we have received Christ Himself in our inmost hearts, our new life will reveal its intimate relationship with Him by a walk of faith in Him. Walking implies action. Thus, our faith is not to be confined only to our prayer closet but we also must apply our beliefs outwardly in every practical way possible. If someone walks in Christ, he will act as Christ would act. If Christ is in him, his hopes, love, and joy—his complete life—will reflect the image of Jesus, and others will say of him, “He is like his Master; he lives like Jesus Christ.”

Walking also signifies progress. “So walk in him”—grow from grace to grace, moving straight ahead until you reach the highest level of knowledge of our Beloved that a person can attain. Walking implies continuance, for a true believer must have a perpetual abiding in Christ. How many Christians think they should spend time with Jesus in the morning and evening but may then give their hearts to the world the rest of the day? That, however, is a meager existence, for we should always be with Him, walking in His steps and doing His will. Walking also implies habit or routine. When we refer to a person’s walk and conversation, we mean his habits and the general tenor of his life. If we enjoy Christ at times and then forget Him, if we call Him our own at times but quickly loosen our hold on Him, then that is not a habit and we do not “walk in him.” We must stay close to Him, cling to Him, never let go of Him—“live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28) in Him.

“As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Col. 2:6 ESV). Persevere in the same way in which you began your walk, when Christ Jesus was the only focus of your faith, the source of your life, the motive behind your actions, and the joy of your soul. May He be the same to you until your life ends, when you “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4) and ultimately “share your master’s happiness” (Matt. 25:23), entering into the “Sabbath-rest for the people of God” (Heb. 4:9).

O Holy Spirit, enable us to obey this heavenly precept.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

In God’s Word we are often reminded to walk in godliness and that His blessings are tied to our walk. For example: “What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (Deut. 10:12 – 13); “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways” (Ps. 128:1); and “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’” (Jer. 6:16).

The Lord commands His people to walk in His ways, but in His grace He also promises to guide us when we veer onto the wrong path, for He said, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isa. 30:21). Later Jesus, who is the ultimate extension of God’s grace, said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).