Day 251, Year 1

Walking in Him

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (Colossians 2:6 NASB)

The word “walk” in the above verse, peripateo in Greek, also implies “to make one’s way, progress, to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self, or to pass one’s life to walk.” This verse makes it clear that Jesus is the Way (John 14:6). And to “walk in the Lord Jesus” means to make decisions within the scope of His will. At least, believers need to have His permission to make major decisions. Meanwhile, since Jesus is the path, it may mean that there are times when He allows us to move freely or choose freely. Thus, as believers seek improvement on the path of faith, we need to keep on praying for understanding Jesus’ will and the freedom He has given us, subsequently adjusting or regulating our lives.

It is Jesus’ will that believers give thanks for everything. “Will” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), thelema in Greek, also means “desire, choice, inclination, or pleasure.” In other words, believers should try to understand Jesus’ desire in all things, give thanks, and pray to Him first. With this kind of knowledge and practice, it is absolutely impossible for believers to live mechanically, because our gratitude to God may vary significantly in different circumstances. Following the previous devotionals, it is easier for believers to understand His will in the context of dining with Jesus, and many matters are actually open to discussion. Besides making decisions, believers usually share everything with the Lord Jesus and understand each other in a relaxed way. Understanding each other is often what Middle Easterners do when they dine together, even until now.

In this scenario, we can freely gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, right down to our roots, in the presence of Jesus. We will discover that our own preferences or problems often do not originate from our own, but rather are influenced by others. Hence, in this process, it becomes easier for us to let go of our own will and preferences, to be more willing to solve our problems, and to make decisions in accordance with Jesus’ inclination. On the contrary, if people accept Jesus but do not follow His way, unbelievers may feel that there is no substantial difference between believing in Jesus and not. Confessing belief in Jesus but not following His way can be a significant hindrance for others to believe in Him. More seriously, when people continually make decisions based on worldly or sinful influence, they are destined to be separated from the Lord and will suffer from eternal punishment.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you find it difficult to adjust or regulate yourself according to the will, desire, or inclination of the Lord Jesus? If so, how would you like to solve it?

2) Do you think that understanding and uprooting the negative influence of others and society on yourself really helps you to come to Jesus with a stronger faith? Why?