"Walking with God"

If “walking with God” could involve restoring sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk, the sick to be healed, lepers cleansed, and the dead raised, one might well say, “Should this be expected of me and, if so, how do I go about it?”

Be comforted, the ability to do these things is not self-generated, it comes out of one’s walk with God.  It’s the “perfection” (bringing to maturity) of this walk that should concern every Christian, this can pave the way for miracles to occur.  The prophet Amos (3:3) put it so aptly when he said, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”   If you were a “Private First-Class” in the U. S. Army and wanted to “walk with” (implying common understandings) a 4-star General and discuss matters of military discipline, strategy, tactics, etc., there is such a great gulf of understanding as to make such a walk impossible.  The general can be courteous, but there can be no common understanding without you as a private being “brought up to speed”.

So, you want to walk with God?  In fact, that’s what being a Christian is about.  God is gracious and wants to “bring us up to speed” as rapidly as possible.  For starters we need to understand we walk with Him on His terms.  The prophet Malachi (3:6) put it starkly, “For I am the Lord, I do not change”.  By contrast, what is there about the new born Christian that doesn’t need changing?  Then why do we “grouse and complain” when God subjects us to those experiences designed to provoke godly changes in us—making us like Himself?  Because this is God’s goal:  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:28, 29).

There is the part God does in shaping us and there’s the part we do:  “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1,2).

There’s more we’re supposed to do: we are to be “holy” (set apart).  Paul put it this way, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (II Corinthians 6:17, 18).

Perhaps you’re beginning to get the picture, “walking with God” calls for a radical change in the way we “walk”.  This nonsense of being “saved”, “converted”, “born again” and carrying on with one’s life as one pleases is just that: nonsense.

Old Testament Joseph went through about 13 years of pressure-packed training before God deemed him fit to take over responsibility as the Prime Minister of Egypt, the most powerful nation in the world at the time.  God wishes to “groom” us to take responsibility for His enterprise now and in the life to come.

Are you ready?