“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (Col 2:6)
When we become children of God, we receive Christ as our Saviour and Lord. Our new lives will manifest this intimate acquaintance with Him by a walk of faith in Him. What does this walk in Him imply?
Walking implies action. We have often heard of admirable leaders as people who walk the talk. Action speaks louder than words, as the adage goes. Similarly, Christians must carry out practical actions that show others our beliefs. If we walk in Christ, we must act like Christ. If Christ is in us and He is our hope, love, joy, we ought to reflect the image of Christ.
Walking signifies progress. This term “progress” is often used by educators in their remarks of their students’ academic performance and brings much relief to anxious parents. Similarly, as Christians, God expects us to progress in our walk in Him. This means we have to improve on our faith by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17) and by diligently studying His word to the uttermost degree of knowledge we can attain concerning God. The list of spiritual disciplines and morals in 2 Peter 1:5-8, which includes knowledge, are to be cultivated with much diligence or hard work (verse 5). We also have to improve our service to God and others. No Christian servant should rest on his or her laurels and be fully happy with his or her standard of service. As what most educators say, there is always room for improvement. The new-year resolution must-do, which is averse or futile to some people, will be a meaningful and timely opportunity for servants of God to reflect on the quantity and quality of their service. The service to be rendered to God should be more comprehensive and of better quality as their walk in Him progresses.
Walking also implies continual abiding in Christ. The fruit on the branch can only be borne if it stays attached to the tree, taking in its nutrients from the tree (John 15:4). It takes time to bear fruit. So continual abiding in Christ is crucial for a fruitful Christian life. The result of this continual abiding in Christ is the production of much fruit (John 15:7).
This continual abiding would be expressed in our habits too. When we talk of a man’s walk and his conduct, we mean his habits and his consistent character. If we sometimes enjoy Christ and love Him and the next, we totally forget about Him, that is not a Christian habit. When we lose our hold of Christ and though at times call Him ours, that is not a habit. Our Christian habits express our identity as Christians. When we live, strongly convicted that our life is in Him, and we move and have our being in Him (Acts 17:28), it is then easier to always seek Him first in all things, consistently and persistently.
Therefore let’s keep on walking in Him, abiding in Christ and reflecting His image that all may see our good works and glorify God.