THE CHILDREN'S WALK

Scripture refers, in varied circumstances, to standing, walking and running. Paul urged the Christians at Philippi to "stand fast in the Lord". As to running, it would be good to have seen Zacchaeus "running on before" in his eagerness to see Jesus: he was rewarded by the Saviour's visit to his house. But as to walking, we usually think of a path to tread with patience. We remember that the Lord Jesus spoke of Himself as "the way". Thus although we now know Him as glorified His human graces should be shown in our daily walk.

Our walk means really the way in which we spend our lives. Of the girl of twelve whom the Lord raised to life Scripture says that she "arose and walked". As believers we have to "make straight paths for our feet", but we may at times stray because we just follow our feelings instead of being guided by the word of God. In this connection someone has suggested that it helps to imagine three persons walking in line one after another. The first of them is Fact, because the truth is in Jesus and the work He has wrought; then comes Faith, looking closely and steadily forward; lastly comes Feeling, who is thus kept true. Fact cannot go astray, but if faith looks back at feeling, what happens to them both?

The aged apostle John wrote a short and beautiful letter to a family of children with their mother. In it he said how glad he was to hear that some - perhaps all - of the household were "walking in truth". We can be sure that heaven, too, looked with pleasure on footsteps small and larger in such a path. The children not only spoke the truth, but also in their whole conduct they wished to be true to their knowledge of God as Father. His commandment is that we should love one another. We do not exactly need a commandment to love Him, but do so because He has first loved us and sent His Son to die for our sins. Do you love Him?

J.C.Evershed