Walking with the Lord

Background Scripture: Hebrews 13
Lesson Scripture: Colossians 1:9–14; Hebrews 13:5–9

Introduction

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Gen. 3:8).

From the very beginning, God has desired a relationship with man, the crown of his creation. In the garden of Eden, everything was provided for the sustenance of man, and work evidently was not a burden. No time was spent building houses or businesses, and no money needed to be earned for buying clothes and food. In the way of life which God had originally planned, time was free for walking with God and communicating with Him. Does this not tell us about God’s desire to also walk with us?

Key Verse

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The lesson scripture provides some practical advice on how to walk with the Lord. This was necessary because walking with God in a personal way was likely a new concept to the Jews, who had been taught that the fearful God, who dwelt behind the veil, was to be approached with sacrifice and ceremony. The gentiles also, without the centuries of teaching under the schoolmaster of law, likely had a concept of God that was vague and undeveloped. As new Christians, both groups needed instruction on how to walk with God in this new and living way.

The writer to both the Colossians and the Hebrews was speaking to regenerated people, those who had been born again. This miracle is the foundation for walking with the Lord. As Jesus observed, true regeneration makes us become as little children who desire to be led into a walk with God. Even after a surrender of our will to Jesus and a commitment to follow Him, we still will need assistance to walk safely to our Father’s house. The greatest of these helps is the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught that He would guide us into truth. Apostle Paul tells of his desire that God’s children would be filled with wisdom, the knowledge of God and his will, and spiritual understanding. Who but the Holy Spirit can give true spiritual understanding? And who can better teach us the knowledge of God than the Holy Spirit of God Himself?

While God desires to fill us with Himself and make us to be like Jesus his Son, he will not override the freedom of choice that He has given us. He will lead us down the narrow way if He has our cooperation, but He will not drive us to heaven. The blessings He desires to bestow upon us are based upon our willingness to be led. He will be found by the wholehearted (Jer. 29:13), He will reward the diligent (Heb. 11:6), and He will answer the prayer of the persistent (Luke 18:7). Diligent, persistent wholeheartedness is not the nature of a shallow Christian in whom the fear of God is lacking. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant” (Ps. 25:14).

As in any relationship, a daily walk with God takes time, listening, mental focus, and truly being present. We are not equal to God, so we cannot choose a selfish path and expect Him to walk with us there. He is the one who has delivered, translated, and redeemed us. We must follow Him faithfully if we wish to enjoy his presence. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

Practical Truths for Today

If we take Hebrews chapter 13 as a template for walking with the Lord, we see that our walk with God has much to do with our interpersonal relationships. Walking in brotherly love and practicing hospitality require social interaction. Some temperaments need more of this than others for their mental health, but no one of us has all the gifts and spiritual discernment that are necessary. This is one of the reasons why we need the body of Christ, his church, where we have access to all the gifts He has given (Eph. 4). Spiritual fellowship is one of the greatest blessings of the redeemed. It is that “good part” that Jesus commended Mary for choosing. This should be the intent of our hospitality, especially with those who are of the household of faith. While decency and orderliness are taught in the Word, they should never supersede spiritual heart connections with our brothers and sisters. Receiving encouragement is so much more important than having a spotless house or serving gourmet food. Selfishness makes us withdraw until conditions are such as will lift us up, but love is a force that desires to pour itself out on others.

In our era, imprisonment for our faith is not as common as it was to the early believers. Nevertheless, many are still in bonds by circumstances that are not of their choosing. Some face opposition from their families for choosing to walk with God. Some struggle to fully release their baggage to the Lord and live in freedom, choosing rather to use it as an excuse for selfishness. Some are in adverse financial positions which limit their ability to live life as they would wish. Whatever the case, we all have our limitations and struggle with certain areas of our lives. We often do not understand the “how and why” through which God ordains the circumstances of our lives, but when we let them have their intended effect, we can be at peace whether we are “in bonds” or “bound with them.”

Marriage is to be the closest human connection on earth. It is an honorable state that is blessed of God and one in which He takes a keen interest. It could be argued that marriage was given not only for the happiness of mankind but also for his sanctification. Through marriage we are taught unselfishness and loving from the will, not just with our feelings. Marriage depicts the commitment of walking together. A man and a woman, without a knowledge of the future but each with the knowledge of their own faults and weaknesses and at least an intellectual understanding of their partner’s imperfection, will nevertheless vow their lives to each other. Perhaps there is a deeper meaning to marriage we will only understand when we get to heaven. The Scriptures use it to illustrate God’s covenant with his people in the Old Testament and also the relationship between Christ and the church in the New Testament.

Covetousness is defined as a grave sin in the Bible. It is mentioned in the Ten Commandments, equated with immorality in Ephesians 5:3, and explained as being no different than idolatry in Colossians 3:5. Jesus also threw this sin into sharp relief when He taught that we cannot serve God and mammon. Worship and devotion both require time, mental focus, delayed gratification, and sacrifice, whether it be to the true God or idols. Covetousness, in whatever way it presents itself, is idolatry because it takes that which we owe to our Creator and Redeemer and places it on things and possessions.

Like any other sin, covetousness blinds the ones who are infected by it but reveals itself to those who observe. We cannot hide what we love. Covetousness will make a man sacrifice relationships, the results of which can last through eternity, and devote his numbered days to laying up earthly treasures which are unsure at best and will perish at the last day. Someday our allotted time will run out, our investments will be called for, and our souls will be required of us. While we all must live and work to provide the things that are necessary for our pilgrimage here on earth, Jesus taught that life consists of more than that (Luke 12:15). The blessing of God is worth much more than a rate of increase on our earthly holdings, and if we fail to prosper materially, the child of God can still rejoice that he is in the care of One who does all things well and works all things for his good.

A meaningful walk with God is the only sure antidote to covetousness. When He is on the throne of our heart and we truly have no other gods before Him, we will not seek our security in other things. Our desire will be to see God’s kingdom increase, not our own kingdom. “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb. 13:14).

We all have a responsibility to respect our leaders. Obeying those who rule over us is an unpopular concept and is disdained by the anti-authority spirits that are abroad today. Nevertheless, this teaching is inspired Scripture. When we consider how God called Moses, David, Saul, Elisha, Amos, Esther, and others, we see a definite pattern emerge. Brethren who have been called to lead in the church are men who have not sought the spotlight or leadership positions but were faithfully occupied in the duties before them. Perhaps as reluctant warriors, they accept the call of the church as part of their consecration to God’s service and their commitment to follow wherever He leads. As they forsake their own comfort and labor in their call, we do them and ourselves a grave disservice if we are resistant and willful. They have the unsought responsibility of giving an account for our souls, whether we make it hard or easy for them. When God’s order is obediently and humbly observed, all are happy and secure.

The way to security in the Lord is remembering that it is only by grace. When we keep in view our unworthiness and God’s grace that made a way of salvation for us and opened the door for a walk with Him, we will not be carried about with other persuasions. It is only when we try to establish ourselves with our works and performance that we will be lacking and insecure in the way we relate to God.

“The great Shepherd of the sheep” will be found with his flock, our brothers and sisters in the faith. As we press close to Him, we will also be pressing close to each other. When we walk with God, we will be walking with each other also.

Questions

1. Can we say we are walking with God if we do not have a daily time set aside to connect with Him?
2. Can we hear God’s voice if we are not walking with Him?
3. How would you explain walking with God to an honest seeker?
4. How much of walking with God is a mental exercise?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).