THE WALK OF BELIEVERS

A. P. Grant

1 Thessalonians 2: 10–12; Colossians 1: 9, 10; Ephesians 4: 1–3

These three scriptures refer to our walk as affected by our knowledge of divine Persons and divine blessing. We were reading recently of the man who was lame from his mother’s womb, but through the name of Jesus Christ the Nazaraean was able to stand and walk and leap and praise God (Acts 3: 8). He was an example of one who was given power to walk, and what would be suggested in that is that he was walking in a way that was pleasing to God. There is a word in the prophets that it was God who taught Ephraim to walk (Hosea 11: 3), not walking according to the way the world walks, but walking according to God’s pleasure.

We think of the Thessalonians as young believers, who had been recently converted as it says, “how ye turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to await his Son from the heavens”, 1 Thessalonians 1: 9. Our brother has been speaking of change, what a change for the Thessalonians as turning “to God from idols to serve a living and true God”.

There is no doubt that turning to God would influence their walk, every step of their pathway from that point onwards, and as Paul says where we read, “that ye should walk worthy of God”. It was God they had turned to, they had proved God’s love. Paul speaks of them as “in God the Father” (1 Thessalonians 1: 1), an affectionate reference. The place they had in God’s heart would have an effect on their walk, so that Paul is exhorting them to “walk worthy of God”, a walk in faith with every step depending on God; a new source of guidance for them. God would have a place in their affections; idols refer to what has a place in the affections of men, taking God’s place in their affections. We are exhorted to keep ourselves from idols, which would be in keeping with a walk that is worthy of God, ‘walking in faith’, as we sang in our hymn (Hymn 87). The Thessalonians came into the good of that and not only turned to God from idols but it was in view of serving God, “a living and true God”. Our walk would be changed as we consciously have a link with the living and true God, “God is a spirit; and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth”, John 4: 24. Systems of idolatry are marked by deadness, and it is encouraging to see believers, even in countries where idolatry predominates, who are maintained in the living character of serving a “living and true God”.

Their walk is marked by life and what is pleasing to God. May we be encouraged as this is a word for us all and especially for those who are young.

Paul refers to the walk of the Colossians, “walk worthily of the Lord unto all well-pleasing”.

We think of the walk of the Lord Jesus as John speaks of it. John took account of Him as He walked, every footstep in the pathway of God’s will, involving sacrifice, and saying, “Behold the Lamb of God”, John 1: 36. Persons were attracted, John’s disciples were attracted to the Lord as taking account of His walk; our walk too is to be influenced as being occupied with Christ. What a difference it would make to our walk as being attracted to Christ, and as learning from Him. Paul refers to confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10: 9), and I think walking worthily of the Lord would be in keeping with our confession in a practical way,

“unto all well-pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work”. I think there would be some fruit for God in the walk of persons who could be described as walking “worthily of the Lord”. So we come to know God and serve God, and come to know the Lord Jesus, a Man filling our affections, and there is no doubt as we are enjoying our links with divine Persons that our walk would be changed and we would be marked by features of Christ. What a model He is for us!

Lastly in Ephesians, Paul again speaks of our walk, “I exhort you therefore to walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye have been called”. The first three chapters are very exalted, and they would elevate our thoughts to the level of divine purpose and counsel. In chapter 4, Paul turns to practical matters as to our walk, and I thought that Ephesians would especially relate to how we are walking with others. The man in Acts 3 held on to Peter and John, he walked with them.

What a blessing it is to have others to walk with. There is a verse in the prophets that says, “Shall two walk together except they be agreed?”, Amos 3: 3.

The apostle draws attention to our heavenly calling in such a full way in this epistle and our heavenly blessings, “every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies”, Ephesians 1: 3. As enjoying these blessings our walk would take on a heavenly colour. The Spirit would empower us to enjoy these heavenly blessings with the saints, especially on the first day of the week, and cause our walk to be coloured by our experience. Paul exhorts to “walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love”. I think these are the features that enable us to walk with others.

They are features of Christ, and persons marked by these features can go on with others who have a bond in the Lord. They are very attractive features, and I think that as marked by them we can go on collectively, pleasing to the Lord and pleasing to God. So may we be encouraged and maintained in this walk like the Thessalonian saints, who were awaiting His Son from the heavens. Our brother has spoken about the coming of the Lord, and I think as we have the coming of the Lord before us it would influence our pathway here. So may we be encouraged in it, for His name’s sake.

Word in meeting for ministry, Dundee, 14 August 2007

Edited and Published by J. Strachan, 59 Frederick Street, Dundee, DD3 9DE, Scotland Printed by Crystal Stationery, 22 Western Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9DZ, (T) (01277) 650661