Keep Right on Walking

Well now, ain’t you somethin’ stoppin’ by here today? So, come on and push open that creaky ol’ gate and park yourself on this ol’ front porch, friend. There’s a rocker over yonder just waitin’ for you like an ol’ cantankerous mule starin’ at an open barn door, and that mornin’ breeze is rustlin’ through the leaves like a lil’ squirrel whisperin’ where it buried somebody else’s pecans. Today we’re talkin’ about growin’ with God, and that’s one journey where nobody ought to unpack their suitcase too soon.

Paul tells believers in 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more.” Them folks was already walkin’ with God. Paul’s message was, “Don’t stop there.” Faithfulness yesterday don’t excuse us from followin’ Jesus today.

Then Colossians 1:10 says, “That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” See that? Walkin’, bearin’ fruit, increasin’. The Christian life is alive. A garden left untended won’t politely stay the same. Before long, weeds git to movin’ in like lil’ ol’ raccoons that plum found the corncrib unlocked.

And 2 Peter 3:18 tells us, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” Growth ain’t merely knowin’ more Bible facts. It’s plum becomin’ more like Jesus. Grace ought to soften what’s hard in us, deepen what’s shallow, and strengthen what’s weak.

That’s sho’-nuff’ why Hosea 6:3 says, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Friend, God ain’t callin’ us to one grand spiritual leap. He’s callin’ us to keep right on followin’. One prayer. One surrender. One act of obedience. One step closer.

Father, don’t let me settle for yesterday’s walk with You. Help me grow in grace, bear fruit that pleases You, and keep increasing in my knowledge of You. Show me where I’ve gotten comfortable and give me courage to take the next faithful step. Keep my heart moving toward Jesus every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now then, climb on down from this ol’ porch, friend, and don’t you be frettin’ if your next step looks smaller than a lil’ ol’ field mouse’s Sunday shoe size. Rivers reach the valley one bend at a time, and pine trees climb heavenward without makin’ a lick of racket about it. Keep right on movin’ toward Jesus because little acts of obedience become mighty big roads of faithfulness. So, tip your hat to yesterday, leave comfortable feelin’s sittin’ in the rocker, and head right on into today askin’, “Lord, where are we walkin’ to next?”

With joy,

Gwen