Walking The Walk

1 John 2:6 – Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself. (AMP)

Some years ago, when speaking about the responsibility of a Christian, someone coined the phrase, "Talk the talk and walk the walk." In other words, we are to live our Christianity in every walk of life.

I am confronted almost daily with this catchy little phrase when I look out my window and see a man taking a walk. I do not know him; in fact, I have never met him face-to-face. I have only seen him from the back view, but I can recognize him immediately. Many months ago, he started to walk by, and he had a very distinctive stagger. It seemed as if an invisible person walked on either side of him. When he reeled over too far, the one person would give him a push. Then he would lean over to the opposite side, and the other person pushed him back. I concluded that he had sustained a very serious injury of some kind during his former years, and now — possibly in retirement with unlimited time — he was determined to improve the outcome of that injury. With persistent walking, his gait has changed tremendously. Where once he staggered, he now has a slight hip-hop rhythm and much greater speed. I do not know if this exercise causes him great pain. I just know that he has persisted regardless, and the results are truly amazing.

What a wonderful example for Christians to continue in a spiritual walk regardless of the cost! As Christians, we do not escape life's injuries just because we are related to a King. Yet knowing this relationship, we are sometimes tempted to ask "Why?" This impedes our progress, and we barely limp forward. But as we look at our very human example with his investment of time and energy, we see results — not perfection, but a great change. So it is with the Christian: not perfection, but a daily changing — a firmer walk, a steadier tread, and in spite of our injuries, progress.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we thank You for the examples You bring into our lives on a very human level to encourage us in our Christian walk. Help us this day to look beyond our immediate circumstances to our great example, Your Son, Who truly portrayed perfection regardless of all injuries. We thank You for the ministry of the Holy Spirit Who gently nudges us along, when we would otherwise falter or fall, and whispers an appropriate Bible verse into our spirit. We bring this prayer of thanksgiving to Your throne room in the authority of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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