And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice
to God.
Stacy and I try to stay in shape. There was a
period earlier in our lives when she was a walker
and I was a runner. As I have aged, I have
transitioned to being primarily a walker as well. As
is common, our consistency does not always
match our mental commitment. Life intrudes, and
there are moments when we look up and realize
that we have neglected for too long our dedication
to maintaining our physical health. Ultimately, this
precipitates a re-commitment—a renewal of
purpose insofar as our heart health is concerned.
C’est la vie.
To walk is to put one foot in front of the other
with the intention of heading in a certain direction.
At the same time, to walk is to follow a defined
figurative path—to purposefully choose a “life
direction.” To do this is to decide to live in a
particular way—usually as a result of following
someone who has already set for us a course.
The word, therefore, has a literal and a figurative
meaning. This is true in both English and Greek
(the language in which the NT was written).
When Paul writes that we must “walk in love,”
we understand his meaning—he tells us that we
are called to purposefully follow a direction in our
lives that imitates the love that Christ has shown
to others. We are to live in imitation of Jesus in
every way. We are to “walk in love” in the exact
same way as did our Lord. In so doing, we not
only participate in the life of Christ, but we also
“offer up” ourselves to God as obedient and
willing servants. Along the way, we continue to
change as we transform into His image.
–Ricky
