Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6).

While the writers of Scripture use many vivid metaphors to describe the Christian life, by far the most common one in the New Testament is a “walk”.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:25).

“If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, NKJV).

The theme of walking echoes through Ephesians: “walk in love” (5:2, ESV), “walk as children of light” (5:8), “look carefully then how you walk” (5:15). Walking depicts the course of an individual’s whole life: Enoch and Noah “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22; 6:9). King Jehu did not (2 Kings 10:31). It is a dominant, inspired metaphor in Scripture, and a picture of what our relationship with God should look like. The Lord has invited you for a walk, with Him, together on the journey of life.

Along the way, God is changing you. Sometime you may grow impatient and want instant victory over all your problems. Sometime you’ll grow weary or discouraged; a lifetime of battling sin seems overwhelming.

But if you are ever going to walk with Christ and be the person God intended you to be, your focus must be on the next step. Just that step and nothing else. When you strain to see the future, or fear you won’t have the energy or strength for tomorrow, the enemy has succeeded in intimidating you, and you’ll have missed the opportunity to live for Christ in this moment.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6)

As you walk with God today, rather than scanning the horizon for all that’s ahead, just focus your eyes on the next step. Don’t miss the opportunity to live for Him fully today.

Spencer Cromwell, Windsong church of Christ, Little Rock, AR