This past Sunday my seven-year-old granddaughter and I were walking across the parking lot at church when she said to me, “Nannie, please don’t walk so fast.” I realized that I needed to slow down because she was wearing her shiny, gold, one-inch “high heels” and having trouble keeping up.

I’ve always been struck by the references to “walking” in the Bible.  Many of the Old Testament patriarchs were said to walk with God.  We are commanded in Deuteronomy to walk in obedience (5:33; 10:12).  One of my favorite verses is Micah 6:38, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  And Paul entreats us to “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God “ Ephesians 5:1).

This concept of walking that we find in Scriptures might be taken to mean many things, but I am focused on the idea of just taking one step at a time, putting one foot in front of the other, of keeping in step with God, not getting too far ahead of him, or lagging too far behind.

Just as with my granddaughter, I may need to slow down.  As new and exuberant Christians, we sometimes want to charge ahead, thinking we know what is needed.  Just like Paul following his conversion on the road to Damascus, we need to be sure that we are not getting ahead of Jesus in our journey.  We need to heed the wisdom of our elders and allow ourselves to take time and learn the ways of Jesus.

And sometimes we get lazy or tired, and perhaps fall behind.  Then we may need to hear and obey the same message as Jesus told the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat, and walk” (Mark 2:9).

How do we know we are in step with Jesus?  Paul says that it’s when we are exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” Galatians 5:22-25).

We can know we are in step with the Spirit when we are practicing what we know to do on a daily basis:  staying in the Word, talking to God, seeking guidance, seeking conviction for and repenting of sin.  We can know we are in step with the Spirit when our lives demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  We can know we are in step with Jesus when we identify with Him and desire above all to glorify Him.

Blessings,

Judy