Walking With Jesus

"Whoever keeps His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way He walked."
                                                            1 John 2:5-6




If you were to decide to take a walk today with a friend, what would be the foremost thought in your mind? Would it be the destination? Would it be what you might encounter along the way? Would it be goal-oriented like the number of calories burned or miles that are walked? Would it be that you were like-minded and walked the same distance at the same pace? Or, would it be the time you get to spend with your friend and the fellowship and love you share as you both walk side by side to complete the task set before you?

There are so many different perspectives you could have on merely taking a walk. The same is true for each of us on this life journey in which we are engaged. The truth is, we can wake up each and every day, accomplish all the things set before us, and still miss the most important thing. We can even be continually involved in church activities and Bible studies and not connect with the Life Source of them all.  Even amidst religious pursuits, it is still possible to miss the life and love and fellowship of Jesus that God so desperately desires for us to have.

In the Bible, the first person that is identified as walking with God is Enoch. We are told that "after he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and then he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:22-24). This passage explains to us that Enoch was so close to God that he didn't even die; he simply was taken straight up to heaven as a result of how close his walk with God was.

The reason God shares this story in the Bible with us is not to highlight the piety of a man because Isaiah tells us that "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Rather, it is for God to show His heart to us in how much He delights walking with man. God's desire is that we know Him and love Him and are passionate about the things that He is passionate about. These things can never happen until we learn to walk with Jesus everyday.

Walking with Jesus everyday is completely separate from being engaged in religious activity. For example, I can wake up every morning and do my quiet time (read my Bible and pray). There have been times that I have done this and did not think or feel any differently after doing so. It received a check mark off my to-do list, and nothing much more than this. There are other days when I am desperate to see and hear what God would say to me regarding a particular issue or loved one. These are the days when my heart is softer and more open to really see God's Word with clarity and receive the things that He would impress upon my heart. In this, He leads and guides and gives me the wisdom that I crave.

Jesus is the One who directs the steps that we take if we are truly walking side by side with Him. At times, He will slow down and point out the beauty or wonder of something or someone that we encounter along our path. At other times, He will draw our attention to something or someone that needs our prayers. Often, He will bring us to a circumstance that calls us to participate with it. Even better than all these, He shows us the beauty of His countenance and face and in the reflection of the deep pools in His eyes, we can somehow tangibly see and know His love for us individually.

These are the most precious and sacred moments of my life. That is because too often I forget or get distracted or focus on lesser things.  But, when I remember or can see clearly, these are the moments that I have confidence and clarity of why God has placed me on planet earth.These are the moments that my vision is restored and my faith is renewed. These are the moments when I know with certainty that my hand is firmly placed inside of His and that there is absolutely nothing in this world that could separate me from Him or take me off course.

These are the times that spur me on to keep going when life is hard. Or scary. Or unpredictable. It is Jesus' love for me that keeps me calm when circumstances rage around me. It is Jesus' love for me that helps me know that He is near, even when I cannot see or feel that He is close. It is Jesus' love for me that strengthens me to obey His Word and will, even when I would rather give in to whatever might be easier at the moment.

When I watch how Jesus walks and how He loves, I know that I want to walk and love like that, too. At times, I try to imitate what I see and at other times I ask for guidance on how to do what He does. Other times, He shows me areas in my life that do not line up with His Word. Daily I fall short, but it is His love that coaxes me to get back up and to keep moving forward. It is His love that helps me to keep the right perspective.

On my difficult days when I do not see or feel His love, I only have to remember that He died for me on Calvary in order that I could spend eternity with Him in heaven. And, even if I were the only person on earth that ever accepted Him, He still would have made that ultimate sacrifice for me. And, if it is too difficult to remember, I only have to open His Word, the love letter that He wrote to me, to revive the barren places of my soul.

Just like when we make plans to take a walk with a friend, our walk with Jesus must be intentional. Each and every day, we must decide to get up and walk with Him. We must decide to pick up our cross (whatever is difficult and burdensome) and still follow after Him. Like a small child, we must decide to keep our hearts pure before Him. We gaze upon His goodness and know that we can totally and unequivocally trust Him.

No one is disqualified from walking with Jesus because of past sins or mistakes. Paul wrote that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We have all missed the mark, made mistakes, and sinned. And yet, Jesus still loves us in spite of ourselves. His grace is continually poured out into our lives.

Today, will you decide that you will trust Jesus and walk with Him in your life? Will you receive HIs mercy and grace and love? Will you fellowship and commune with Him and seek Him with your whole heart? Even now, I hear the words that He is speaking to you and to me... He passionately and lovingly speaks to His children and says, "Come, follow Me" (Matthew 4:19). I can promise that when you do, it will be the walk of your life!


                                 "Our walk counts far more than our talk. Always."
                                                      George Mueller