Are you walking in a manner worthy of the calling to which God has called you? Or are you being tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by false teachers? The first should be the goal when following Jesus. The second should be what we seek to avoid. The only way to measure where we stand is by knowing God’s Word.
Last week I was in the Outer Banks of North Carolina just days after a Nor’easter passed through the area. The beach was littered with debris from piers, docks and other structures that were destroyed by the storm. A number of different perished marine life, like the starfish pictured above, also covered the beach. The sight made it clear to me just how destructive waves and wind can be to anything that is not anchored to something secure.
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Ephesians 4:14
My walk on the beach reminded me of this verse and Paul’s warning for why we need to be anchored to the truth of God’s Word and walking in His ways. We need the local church, discipleship and to be consistently growing in our knowledge of and devotion to God. If we are not maturing in Christ then we are more likely to accept lies as truth and follow false teachers.
The Benefits of Walking
As I prepared for the kickoff of my women’s Bible study this week, I considered the benefits of walking daily. According to medical professionals, walking for twenty minutes every day improves physical health, boosts your mood, and protects against chronic disease like heart disease and diabetes. Daily walking creates stronger hearts, controls blood sugar and helps with weight management. It can even ease joint pain, sharpen your memory and help you obtain healthy sleep. If this is the case, why doesn’t everyone walk daily?
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, Ephesians 4:1
Over the next few months, I hope that you will see through, Walk His Way, that there are also benefits to walking in the ways of the Lord. As well, there are dangers to walking in the ways of the world. And yet, there are many churches, ministries, and people who claim to be followers of Christ and don’t live out the truth of God’s Word in their lives. Some don’t even realize that they are being led astray.
These same people neglect the things that will help them to grow in their knowledge of God and devotion to Him. They refuse to be disciples and refuse to disciple others. As a result they focus on and fight for causes that do not bring God glory and that do not build His kingdom. They can not discern good doctrine and are quick to support every false teacher posing as a Christian influencer on social media.
Don’t Get Carried Away
The goal is maturity for ourselves and others (Colossians 1:28-29). We must grow in our grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and help others to do the same. Jesus must be our Savior and Lord of our lives. This requires understanding our need for God more and more each day and surrendering daily to His will for our lives. Otherwise, we can get carried away by lies or led into temptation.
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18
Don’t be fooled by the error of lawless people who do not know the Lord. They will tell you to love your neighbor and define love apart from God’s Word. Many will encourage you not to talk about politics and attempt to convince you that the Creator and Sustainer of all things has no place in government. Some will tempt you to focus on the physical needs of mankind while ignoring mankind’s greatest need, salvation through Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament we see the command to walk used frequently to refers to daily conduct. To walk worthy means that our day-to-day life demonstrates that Jesus is our Lord. It means standing up for God’s truth even when it puts us at odds with the unbelieving world. Daily we say to God, Here I am! Send me (Isaiah 6:8). Then we have to be willing to go where God sends us, whether we like it or not. Through our obedience to His call on our lives He is growing us and using us to grow others.
Grow Up In Every Way
Many self-professing Christians are being deceived by false teachers. Like the starfish on the beach, their end may be destruction if they are not seeking to grow in their knowledge of and devotion to God. At the least they will be ineffective in sharing the Gospel and building God’s kingdom. At the worst they will anchor themselves and encourage others to anchor themselves to things that can not save them.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, Ephesians 4:15
If we want to truly follow Jesus then we must grow up in every way into Him. We must become students and teachers. Let’s accept the journey and path that God has given us because we know that it has a great purpose. Let’s follow the leadership of Jesus and our map, God’s Word. Only then will we be able to speak truth in love because we understand truth and love as defined by God. We will also be able to protect ourselves from errors and false teachers. Let’s walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which God has called us.
I encourage you to download Lesson 1 of my FREE Bible Study, Walk His Way. Be sure to check out my Resources Page for more Bible study and prayer resources. I would love to hear from you. Email me through my Contact Page.
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