PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD -- Tomorrow:
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Colossians 1:9-11, KJV)
Devotion 17 of 32
" . . . that ye might walk worthy of the Lord . . . "
Much is said in the Scriptures about "walking." The Spirit assigns a special significance to this word – a significance that accents spiritual activity and focus. When referring to His daily activities Jesus said, "I must WALK today, and tomorrow, and the day following" (Lk 13:33). He said those who followed Him would not "WALK in darkness" (John 8:12). He affirmed those who "WALK in the day" would not stumble, while those who "WALK in the night" would (John 11:9).
There is such a thing as walking "in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham" (Rom 4:12). There is also walking "in newness of life" (Rom 6:4), "after the Spirit" (Rom 8:1,4), "honestly" (Rom 13:13), and "in love" (Eph 5:2). We are admonished to "walk circumspectly" (Eph 5:15), "in wisdom toward them that are without" (Col 4:5), and "in the light as He is in the light" (1 John 1:7).
Life is like walking – there is progress toward a preferred destination. It is like walking because there are effort, and activity. Our lives are lived out in measures – like a step at a time. Life is also like a walk because it is deliberate and marked by intention. Only the living walk. Walking is not for dead men. Walking is also for those who are whole. Wherever there are impotence and lameness, men no longer walk. All of this parallels spiritual life – or life that is lived unto God.
Walking "worthy of the Lord" is walking "IN newness of life" (Rom 6:4). It is taking advantage of the salvation of God in your life – living in an awareness of the Lord and His blessing. To walk "worthy of the Lord" is to walk "after the Spirit," and not "after the flesh" (Rom 8:1,4). It is to "walk honestly," and not in sinful indulgence (Rom 13:13).
Our text speaks of walking "worthy of the Lord" – living in a manner that meets with Divine approval and commendation. Walking "worthy of the Lord" is living "by faith, and not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). It is to be governed by the perception of the Lord and not the vision of this world. This is walking, or living "in the Spirit," and thus not fulfilling "the lust of the flesh" (Gal 5:16). This is a life that has focus, is marked by progress, and requires passing through various environments, some of which are threatening.
THE PRACTICALITY OF THE WORD
There is an unusual degree of practicality in the word "walk." If it is true that being filled with all wisdom and spiritual understanding is to the intent of enabling us to walk worthy of the Lord, then we must conclude the following. Where a life worthy of the Lord is not eagerly sought, this wisdom and understanding will not be granted, and is in no way being experienced. Those who do not walk "worthy of the Lord" are not wise, and they have no understanding. If they were ever purged from their sins, they have forgotten it (2 Pet 1:9). Those who are not progressing toward the Lord, and improving in the matter of pleasing Him, are quenching the Spirit and refusing to hear Him who is speaking from heaven. They are not resisting the devil, nor have they put on the whole armor of God. There is no way to avoid this circumstance. There is nothing about salvation that does not encourage and promote walking worthy of the Lord.
To put it another way, if a professing Christian is not seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, such a one is confined to the realm of spiritual ignorance, and will not be able to discern the purpose of God, or truly profit from His Word. The things of God will, in such a case, appear mysterious, unattractive, and even unnecessary. God will not be known, salvation will not be appreciated, and that person will be found standing on the precipice of eternal ruin.
This is the manner of the Kingdom, and it helps us to understand the deplorable condition of many people who wear the name of Jesus. The modern church may allow for people who refuse to walk in the light, but God does not. It may be willing to tolerate a disinterest in the things of God and a lack of the love of the truth, but God will not.
As long as they are in this world, the people of God are journeying like the Israelites did in the wilderness. They are not in heaven now, just as Israel was not in the promised land while they journeyed through the "great and terrible wilderness." Just as Israel could not settle down in the wilderness, so the saints cannot settle down in this world. They must walk – not only walk, but walk "worthy of God." This is a challenge that must be heard, pondered, and fulfilled.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to live in such a way as to make progress to glory, and increasingly be worthy in Your sight.