Walking in Christ

The Scriptures frequently speak about the "Christian Walk" as a description of a believers' behavior. For example, we are told to walk as children of light, walk in truth, walk according to the Spirit and walk in love. Colossians 2:6 uses this expression to give us an important command, "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him."

The question we must ask is: What does it mean to "Walk in Christ?"

Here the word in does not have a literal usage, like "the hammer is in the toolbox." Rather, it refers to a vital relationship---a union between the believer and the Lord. Just as a wedding marks the beginning of a new relationship for a man and a woman, receiving Christ as Savior commences an intimate fellowship between the Lord and His follower.

What God desires is not simply to forgive sins but to develop a close and ever-deepening personal relationship with each of His children. He wants us to realize that the Son of God is the source of everything – Jesus Christ is to the believer what blood is to the human body: indispensable to life.

Therefore, "walking in Christ" refers to a dynamic relationship with the Lord. Just as it is impossible to walk while standing still, believers are either moving forward in their Christian life or falling backward. The key for how to make progress is found in that same verse in Colossians 2:6, "As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him."

How did you and I receive Christ? To be born again, we trusted the testimony of the Word of God. The Christian life is to be "walked" or lived out in the same way.

People are guided by their natural senses but that is not effective because from our human viewpoint, we are unable to see the big picture. Instead our heavenly Father wants us to trust Him daily for whatever need we may have. That is why followers of Jesus Christ are to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

We must take the first step by faith and then another, not knowing exactly where it will lead us, but trusting that our omniscient, loving God has our best interest in mind. To walk by faith means having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that results in trusting Him for every circumstance of life. When we consistently live with that kind of confidence in the Lord, we will believe He will do what is right and what is for our benefit every time, without exception.

To those believers going through trying times of grief and suffering, I proclaim to you one thing: "Take heart and walk by faith in Christ!"

To the true church when our religious liberties are suspended due to our beliefs on marriage, abortion, homosexuality, gender or pandemic fears, I proclaim to you one thing: "Take heart and walk by faith in Christ who loves us!"