Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him (Colossians 2:6, ESV).
While the writers of Scripture use many vivid metaphors to describe the Christian life, by far the most common one in the New Testament is a walk.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, NKJV).
The theme of walking echoes through Ephesians: “walk in love” (5:2, ESV), “walk as children of light” (5:8), “look carefully then how you walk” (5:15). Walking depicts the course of an individual’s whole life: Enoch and Noah “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22, 6:9); King Jehu did not (2 Kings 10:31). It is a dominant, inspired metaphor in Scripture and a picture of what our relationship with God should look like. The Lord has invited you for a walk, with Him, together on the journey of life.
Along the way, God is changing you. Sometimes you may grow impatient and want instant victory over all your problems. Sometimes you’ll grow discouraged; a lifetime of battling sin can seem overwhelming.
But if you are ever going to walk with Christ and be the person God intended you to be, your focus must be on the next step. Just that step and nothing else. When you strain to see the future or fear you won’t have the energy or strength for tomorrow, the enemy has succeeded in intimidating you, and you’ll have missed the opportunity to live for Christ at this moment.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6).
As you walk with God today, rather than scanning the horizon for all that’s ahead, just focus your eyes on the next step. Don’t miss the opportunity to fully live for Him now.
Now watch this: The beauty of feeling weak and helpless
This post originally appeared on Dr. James MacDonald’s daily devotional Our Journey and was republished with permission.
James MacDonald (D. Min. Phoenix Seminary) is the founding senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, leads the church-planting ministry of Harvest Bible Fellowship, teaches the practical application of God’s Word on the Walk in the Word radio and television programs, and is a gifted author and speaker. You can find out more about James and his ministries at WalkintheWord.org.
