Articles
God and Our Walk
In the scriptures, several prepositions are used with “walk” to indicate our relationship to
1) WE WALK “BEFORE” GOD. When God spoke to Abraham He said, “...walk before Me,
and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1). This suggests that we are under His inspection; that He sees
what we do, beholds where we go, hears what we say; yes, knows what we do, say, and are. A
continual realization of this fact—that we are ever in the presence of the Almighty—will help us
to live better.
2) WE ARE TO WALK “AFTER” GOD. Moses wrote, “Y e shall walk after the Lord your
God…” (Deuteronomy 13:4). Peter told us that Christ left us an example that we should follow
His steps (1 Peter 2:21). To walk after God and Christ is to recognize their leadership, follow in
their steps and pattern our lives after them. Without this we will never live that godly life which
is required (Titus 2:12).
3) WE ARE TO WALK “WITH” GOD. Of Enoch and Noah, it is affirmed that they “walked
with God” (Genesis 5:25; 6:9). These men walked with God in an evil age, and when such was
unpopular. This shows that we can do right even though the majority does wrong! Also, we learn
that we are to retain our integrity and maintain our stand for right though such may be unpopular.
We cannot afford to just drift with the current of the stream! To walk with God we must keep in
step, not running ahead in presumption or lagging behind in indifference. Walking with God may
be hindered or prevented by too many business cares, anxieties of life, worldly pleasures, etc.
4) WE ARE TO WALK “IN” CHRIST. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk ye in Him” (Colossians 2:6). This states the sphere of our activity. To walk in Christ is
to live, abide, and work in His body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). One enters Christ by being
baptized (Galatians 3:27). Then he is to walk in Him.
~Wendell Winkler
via White Rock church of Christ, Dallas, TX
