Walking As A Christian

          In Ephesians chapter 5 we are given instruction on how Christians need to live.  We are given, in that chapter, three ways a Christian is to walk.  The first one is found in Eph. 5:2, where it says, "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."  We are told in verse 1 of that same passage to be imitators of God, and one the ways we do this is to walk in love, realizing the love Christ has for us.  Christ loves us to the extent that He layed down His life, so that we, being imperfect sinners, may have the hope of heaven thru His sacrifice.  This is the love we must keep in mind, remembering what has been done for us.  Remembering the love that has been shown for us by Christ ought to make it easier for us to love others and to show our love for God by obeying all that He has commanded. 

The second way we are to walk in Eph. 5 is found in verse 8.  Verse 8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light."  As sinners, separate from God we are in darkness. We are lost in our sins.  In darkness our lives and works are unfruitful according to verse 11.  But when we obey the words of God we become children of light.  Jesus spoke about this in John 8:12, "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying 'I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"  Realizing this, we can conclude that when we abide in Christ and His commandments we are in the light and we become fruitful members of His kingdom.  Our knowledge and adherence to the Lord's commandments leads us to become fruitful.  Notice Eph. 5:9-10 "(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.  Our duty as Christians is to become Christ-like.  To imitate Him as closely as we possibly can.  Learning to walk in His light teaches us that we must behave accordingly. 

Lastly, Eph. 5:15 tells us another way we, as Christians are to walk.  Eph.5:15 says, "See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise."  The word "circumspectly" means "carefully".  We must be careful in how we live and the things that we do.  Verse 17 says, "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  We must be wise in how we live.  This wisdom, according to verse 17, comes from understanding what the will of the Lord is.  We gleen what His will is by studying and practicing His word revealed to us in the Bible.  Daily meditating on His examples and His commandments found in the word of God.  A wise man will realize that God's word is for their benefit, both here on earth and in relation to where we will spend eternity.  The foolish man relies on his own wisdom, disregarding the will of God.  And in doing this, refuses to walk carefully, unable to recognize the dangers and pitfalls of a life spent in ignorance of the blessings God's word provides.  Let us purpose each day to live our lives the God would have us live.  Let us walk in love, in light, and walk carefully and wisely with the knowledge of God's love for us and what He would have us do.  May we always strive to understand and carry out God's will in all things.

- Garrett Alsip