He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (I John 2:6) I John 2:6NKJV
The apostle John encouraged Christians to walk just as Jesus walked. He prefaced his exhortation by refuting the idea that anyone can lay aside the commandments of God and say ‘I know Him’. A true Christian cannot love God and walk in darkness (vv.9-11). And yet we struggle each day to walk in the light and keep the darkness at bay. As you begin this week of service to our Lord and Savior, here are four truths to meditate upon as you strive to walk as Jesus walked.
Walk as He walked for your own good – Oftentimes sin feels good. More often than not sin delivers instant gratification. But sin always ends in death. How many marriages are destroyed by sin? How many families have been devastated by sin? If sin brings forth suffering, alienation, and death then righteousness delivers joy, communion, and life. Sin promises us a banquet, but the reality is that banquet leads to death and is held in hell: “Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell” (Prov.5:5). Sin may temporarily satisfy. Sin may feel good for the moment. But sin always leads to death. To love and do righteousness is to do good to your own soul. Furthermore, in doing good to your own soul, you are being brought into sweeter and deeper communion with your glorious Savior. Fear not sinner. Your Savior was tried and tempted in every way, yet, without sin. He is a sympathetic High Priest. He promises you in His word: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.” (I Cor. 10:13)
Walk as He walked for the good of God’s people – Paul told the Colossians: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender feelings of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any. As Christ forgave you, so also you do. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be thankful.” God’s people need you. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The body of Christ is only as healthy as its weakest member. The Church isn’t an organization, a club, or a business. It is a living organism. As such, each part or member is directly dependent upon other parts or members for its life and health. Paul makes this argument in I Cor. 12. God has uniquely blessed and gifted you to minister to His people. You are here because someone loved & blessed you. Now go and do likewise.
Walk as He walked because the world is watching– Charles Spurgeon said: My brethren, let me say, be like Christ at all times. Imitate him in “public.” Most of us live in some sort of public capacity—many of us are called to work before our fellow-men every day. We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined—taken to pieces. The eagle-eyed, argus-eyed world observes everything we do, and sharp critics are upon us. Let us live the life of Christ in public. Let us take care that we exhibit our Master, and not ourselves—so that we can say, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.” In the Old Testament, when the nations saw signs and wonders displayed they asked “what does this mean”. During our age, as we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ people will ask “can this be true”. When people visit our Church will they find salt and light? Will they experience the mercy, grace, and hope of Jesus Christ? Will they see a people in this world but not of this world? When people visit our Church, they should find Christians who love and serve each other as they follow Jesus. They should see the glory of God manifested in the lives of His people.
Walk as He walked because you are loved – “Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John.14:23) Jesus loved you enough to suffer all of God’s wrath in your place. He also loved you enough to be humiliated and crushed. And when you keep God’s law because of your love to Christ, the Father smiles upon you and loves you. What father doesn’t smile when their son imitates Jesus? How much more so the Father of the Eternal begotten Son! And because the Father loves us, those who walk as Jesus walked have the promise that Jesus and the Father, through the Holy Spirit, will come and dwell with them. We must remind ourselves daily that God dwells in and among His people. What a glorious and uplifting reality that the Triune God dwells within and among His people.
Oh what blessings are ours in Christ Jesus! This week you may be the only Bible some people read. You may be the only gospel some people hear. I pray we all remember “we are an epistle of Christ, known and read by all men, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God” (II Cor. 3). When the world looks at us, may they see those who walk just as He walked.