THE BELIEVER’S WALK (1)

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK in HIM” – Colossians 2:6

The first of the three dynamics of Christianity we’re meditating on this Month is the BELIEVER’S WALK: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK in HIM, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col.2: 6-7). We received Christ by Faith. We also walk in His by Faith. When we’re born again, the first thing God would have us learn is HOW to WALK in Christ in our daily lives. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “Finally my brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us HOW you ought to WALK and to please God” (1The.4:1). Several other scriptures in the New Testament prioritize the Believer’s Walk:

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to WALK WORTHY of the calling with which you were called” (Eph.4:1).

“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer WALK as the rest of the Gentles WALK, in the futility of their mind” (Eph.4:17).

“That you may WALK WORTHY of the Lord, FULLY PLEASING HIM, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col.1:10).

“You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we BEHAVED ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would WALK WORTHY of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1The.2: 10-12).

The Will of God is for Believers to learn to Walk Worthy of our Christian calling or vocation and of the Lord, to fully please Him in our Walk, and be fruitful or productive in it. In essence, the Believer’s Walk refers to the daily behaviour and conduct towards God, the brethren, and unbelieving folks. How we live each day, how we relate with other people, how we relate with God – and the kind of mind we have – are all vital to God. There’s a way a Believer in Christ should and must live that distinguishes him or her from a non-Believer. Someone may be born again and not live the Christian life; hence the consistent reminder in the Word.

The necessity of learning to WALK is one of the reasons churches and Christian ministers are important, because the spiritual life requires training. God brings His children into congregations or church assemblies, and gives them pastors after His heart to train them, teach them, and build them through the Word (Eph. 4:11-14). God expects that in the Church, every new person that receives Christ, hat becomes a member of the church, is trained in the Christian walk. The ultimate end-result is to grow up into Christ’s Stature in all aspects of life: “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head – Christ” (Eph.4:15).

The Believer’s Walk isn’t just for baby Christians. We begin learning to walk worthy as new converts. Through the Gospel, we’ve been separated from the world unto God, from unrighteousness unto righteousness, and from darkness to light. As we open our hearts and mind to be trained and educated in the things of God, He expects us, through the Word and by the Spirit, to grow unto maturity, firmly rooted, built up and established in the faith, living victoriously always, to the Praise and Glory of His Name.

The Believer’s Walk is the beginning of the Journey into Complete Christianity: “And you are COMPLETE in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (v.10). The Complete Christian has learnt to Walk, Worship, Work, and War by God’s Word!