"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7, KJV
The Greek word for "walk" in this verse and most of the other verses in the New Testament that contain the word "walk," is "peripateo." it means "to tread all around, to comport one's self, to be occupied with." Now what should the believer be occupied with? What should our walk look like? And how should we perform it?
The scriptures lay out the principles of the believer's walk in the following passages. But first let us take a quick look at the picture of our walk before we were saved.
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, and the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: amomg who also we had all our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind: and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Ephesians 2:1-3, KJV
That sounds pretty bad, doesn't it? So now let us see how we should "so walk ye in him," and let the scripture speak.
I. First of all, we must have the right direction. "Therefore, we are buried with him in baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in the newness of life." Romans 6:4, KJV
II. Then we need the right discipline. "If ye then be risen with Christ, see those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on the things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3, KJV
III. And we certainly need to have the right desire. "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have reeived of us how ye ought to walk and to please god, so ye should abound more and more." 1 Thessalonians 4:1, KJV
IV. Then you need the right diagram. No one builds a new house without a blueprint for a floor plan. And so here is the plan:
a. Walk in the Spirit---"This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16, KJV. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:25, KJV
b. walk in love---"be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children: and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sweet sacrifice for a sweet smelling aroma." Ephesians 5:1-2
c. Walk in wisdom---"walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." Colossians 4:5, KJV. A daily devotional reading of the Proverbs would greatly enhance this admonition.
d. Walk in the light---"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord: walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:8, KJV. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7, KJV.
e. Walk worthy---"i therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." Ephesians 4:1-2, KJV.
f. Walk honestly---"let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." Romans 13:13, KJV. "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, KJV.
g. Walk circumspectly---"See then that ye walk circumspectly (i.e., diligently), not as fools, but as wise, reeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16, KJV.
h. Walk in truth---"i have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John, vs 4, KJV. And Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth."
So walk ye in Him!
Dick Chamberlain