21 January 2024

WALKING AND PROGRESSING WITH CHRIST

(Going Forward in Christ: GFIC 3)

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian Church to encourage them to grow in their Christian Life. To do that, he exhorted them thus: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving”. (Col.2:6-7 -NKJV). Walking with Jesus is having fellowship with Him in Worship, Prayer and the Word of God.

WALKING suggests companionship – because we are not walking alone, but walking with Jesus. That is also fellowship, which our Lordship says is “abiding” or “remaining” in Him (John 15:4). If we do not abide or remain in Him we cannot bear much fruit (John 15:5). The NIV translates “walk” as “continue”. In other words, walking with Jesus is a continual form of fellowship in faith and in discipline.

WALKING also implies going forward and progressing in our experience with Christ. Our Christian life and walk should never be stagnant; if so, that would make us spiritually stunted and defective. It would weaken our faith and get us defeated spiritually and morally. For then we would lack the strength of the Lord to overcome all our moral weakness and frailty. It would also mean that we will easily fall into temptation and the trap of the devil. Many Christians are weak spiritually and as a result they live in doubt and uncertainty because they do not continue in their spiritual walk with Christ. Thus they live defeated lives.

WALKING means that we will be made strong in faith, unshaken by the adversities of life. The verse says that we will be “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith”. This is the picture of a tree properly rooted in the ground so that when the storms come, the tree will remain firm and able to withstand the strong winds. Because the roots are deep down in the soil, it will also bring much nourishment to the tree and make it flourish and become fruitful. When we put our spiritual roots deep in Christ by our disciplined fellowship with Him, we will also grow strong and become fruitful and glorify God (John 15:8).

WALKING in the end will result in living a happy and thankful life. The promise is that we will be “abounding with thanksgiving”. In other words, a strong Christians life is a life of joy, peace and victory. This gives us a sense of gratefulness to God the Father for His Love, Grace, and Goodness. A joyful heart is a happy heart but also a thankful heart. This makes us delight in worshipping God more out of a grateful heart. Thanksgiving then becomes a way of life – no matter what happens. Hence the Bible exhorts us: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess.5:18). HALLELUJAH!

It is only when we walking faithfully and continuously with Christ, we will experience the abundant life that Christ promises us (John 10:10b). Let us not miss experiencing that but press forward with Him in a disciplined and continuous walk. 

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