I’ve hear someone say that there are rare Christians whose walk with Christ inspires others to draw closer to God. I can say with confidence that the elders of our church are such men. One of our elders, Alan, often tells of a time when he was younger that an elder of the church asked him “how is your walk with Jesus?” He said that this effected him in such a way that it caused him to examine his life, and, by way of the evidence of his life and conduct, he still asks himself that question. This is something that should not be unique to Alan, though; every believer, whether an elder or not, whether serving directly in the church or not, should ask themselves, always and often: “How is my walk with Jesus?” It is not our work in the church, our own inherent goodness (there isn’t any), or any other quality we have that will gather us to Christ on the Last Day; what will gain us access to God the Father forever will be our relationship to Christ, whether we know Him or not.
I often hear people say (professing Christians as well), that they are good people, and so that should be enough. Yet, when I read through the scriptures, as a preacher, mind you, I find myself falling well short of God and His glory. It is only through Christ and Him crucified, and by that, Grace through Faith in Jesus, that I am justified at all. If I were to stand before God without Jesus, I’d have no legs to stand on. Yet it is in knowing Christ, and making Him known that I find everything else in life is dull, and it is by my relationship with Christ that every blessing He has given me holds awe and wonder. Our walk with Jesus is all important. By Him, we love our spouses, children, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, enemies and friends, and through Him the work of the Gospel is accomplished in us. Stand on that question, ask it daily: “How is my walk?” Pray, read scriptures, and adjust your life accordingly.
Colossians 2:1-15
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.
