How then should We Walk?
Eli Black was a brilliant businessman best know for two events in his life: He masterminded the multimillion dollar takeover of the United Fruit conglomerate, and he jumped to his death from the 42nd floor of the Pan Am building in New York City.
In the book An American Company, an executive described a business lunch he had with Eli Black. When the waitress brought a plate of cheese and crackers as an appetizer, Black reached out and took them, placed them on the table, blocked them with his arms, and continued talking. The executive hadn’t eaten for hours and hinted that he would like a cracker. But Black acted as though he hadn’t heard him and went on with the business meeting. After a while, Black placed a cracker and cheese on the tips of his fingers and continued to talk. Several moments later, Black placed the cracker on the executive’s plate and then blocked the rest as before. It was clear that Black was in charge, manipulating others as he pleased. When you play "follow the leader," check to see who is at the head of the line. Eli Black, for all his power, ended up in suicide. Jesus Christ, in all His humility, ended up the Savior of the world. Our Daily Bread, February 6, 1994.
How then should we walk?
We walk in the Love of Christ…
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. [10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Romans 12:9-10
We are to love sincerely; that is without hypocrisy.
Never let it be said we say “I love you,” but do not the things that God calls us to do.
“Giving no offence in anything...by love unfeigned” (2 Cor. 6:3, 6).
“Prove the sincerity of your love” (2 Cor. 8:8).
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
There are four very practical ways the believer is to demonstrate his love...
1. Love by hating evil. “abhor…evil” Stand against: hunger and poverty, hurt and pain, drunkenness and drugs, unjust and improper behavior…
Show the “love of God”…
“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (1 Cor. 10:6).
“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thes. 5:22).
“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10).
2. Love by cleaving to that which is good. “cleave…good.
Desire God’s very best.
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
“That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1 Tim. 6:18).
“For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15).
3. Love our Christian family, “affectioned one to another”
We love our brother and sisters in church just as Christ loves us. We are to live in love, and living in love is peace.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4).
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephes. 4:32).
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 John 3:14).
4. Love by placing others above you. “in honour preferring one another”
We must esteem and express respect each other in fellowship.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).
“Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33).
We walk in Service to Christ
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Romans 12:11
Quiet simply, we serve the Lord with zeal.
Are you enthusiastic in service to Christ?
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. (2 Thes. 3:10).
“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12).
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Eccles. 9:10).
Be fervent or “hot” in spirit.
“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church” (1 Cor. 14:12).
“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (2 Tim. 1:6).
“Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance” (2 Peter 1:13).
Serve the Lord.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24).
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).
“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11).
We walk in Christ through the Trials that come…
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Romans 12:12
We are to conquer trials.
We are to rejoice in hope.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).
“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Cor. 6:10).
We are to endure trials.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephes. 3:16).
We are to continue in prayer.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8; cp. Matthew 7:9-11).
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17).
“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chron. 16:11).
We walk while meeting Real Needs around us…
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Romans 12:13
We meet the needs of people unselfishly.
“The disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:29-30).
“For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: for I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many” (2 Cor. 9:1-2).
We give hospitality.
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, digilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2).
“But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate” (Titus 1:8).
We must be ready to open our door—even to strangers in need.
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).
“Given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
“Use hospitality one to another without grudging” (1 Peter 4:9)
S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower." S. I. McMillen.
Are you willing to be a “true follower” of Christ today?
Have you asked Jesus Christ into your life? That’s the beginning of becoming a “true follower” of Christ.
Will you commit to going to your neighbors and family and telling them that Jesus loves them?
Will you commit to the body of Christ that God has placed you in?
That is how we learn how to walk in Christ, come and join us daily and weekly.
