Our family was a hiking family. We would regularly set out in search of a good trail whenever time allowed.
On the familiar trails we frequented, the kids (when they were younger) would often take the lead and walk out way ahead of me. Sometimes they would leave the main trail and try to take a shortcut, eventually leading back to the main trail. All of which defeated the purpose of the hike. Because, for me, hiking was about being together. As they got older, they tuned into that. And that became valuable to them, too. Then we would hike side-by-side. And I was pleased beyond measure!
In those early years, the hike was always more enjoyable when they were willing and agreeable. It helped if they listened to direction and stayed on the trail. It was also more pleasant when they didn’t fuss, whine, or jockey for position. Of course, all of this improved over time.
So, you see, it wasn’t just about walking with me . . . but it mattered how they walked, as well.
In this series on walking with God, we started with where we should walk—before God (Gen 17:1a). Now let’s explore how we are to walk in His presence.
The biblical metaphor of walking with God has two applications: as a lifestyle, behavior, or conduct or as a relational interaction with someone else [1]. I believe both are depicted in this same verse we’ve been exploring regarding Abraham.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old,
the Lord appeared to him and said,
“I am God Almighty; walk before me
faithfully and be blameless (Gen 17:1).
When God appeared to Abraham, He told him where to walk—before Him. How to walk in relationship with him—faithfully. And the manner in which he was to walk—blamelessly.
God later handed down the Torah as means of instruction for walking with God. He told the people, “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments” I will bless you (Lev 26:3). He went on to say (in verse 12), “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” And in verses 27-28 He warned, but if you “walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you.”
After centuries of walking contrary to the Lord, God sent His Son to show how it’s done.
Jesus came to save us . . . and to show us how to walk with God. He is our example. And we are to follow in His steps. All the way through this life . . . to the new heaven and earth.
Jesus fulfilled the law God handed down through Moses (Mt 5:17). He obeyed all of God’s commandments and statutes perfectly. And has handed down His teachings on how we are to walk with Him, as He did.
Paul wrote, as a servant of God, “to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness” (Tit 1:1). When we walk in the truth of God’s Word it leads to godliness. And “godliness has value for all things” (1 Tm 4:8).
To walk in godliness is to live a life in fellowship with Jesus, through the power of the Spirit, and centered on God.
Let's keep walking in truth and in the light, following the Lord’s example and teaching, and we will be walking in the light of His presence, as children of light. And, as the psalm says, we will be blessed (Ps 89:15).
[1] Dictionary of Biblical Imagery