Keep Walking

Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."

Galatians 5:25, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

We know that any journey, no matter how long, begins with the first step. Actually there is a first step for each of us as we begin our life's journey. The beginning is physical birth. But there is a first step for our journey as Christians as well, and that step is spiritual birth. In order to have spiritual life, one must be born spiritually. This is what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus, "You must be born again." Without spiritual birth, people remain helpless sinners with a hopeless future. Romans 6:23 spells that out for us by saying, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

But there are many steps in completing a journey. The first step of spiritual birth will take us to heaven, but as Christians we are to walk step by step with our Lord in this life, keeping in step with the Holy Spirit--neither lagging behind nor running ahead. Our lives should be committed completely into God's keeping and totally under His direction and at His disposal.

There are some things in life that no one can make you fully understand until you have experienced them for yourself. One is what it is like to fall in love. Another is how wonderful it is to have grandchildren--you are amazed at how beautiful and brilliant and wonderful they are. And one is the joy and peace of walking hand in hand and step by step with our Heavenly Father. Scripture calls this "the abundant life." Some people call it "the victorious Christian life." I guarantee you there's nothing like it. I challenge you with the psalmist's words in Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."

Father, not until we place ourselves completely in Your hands can we experience all the peace and joy and love and everything else wonderful that You want to provide for us. May we walk hand in hand and step by step with You all the way through this life's journey and on into heaven. Amen.