Walk the Well-worn Path

 

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:2-5 ESV).

 

Today we begin to unpack some of the practical examples the Apostle Paul uses to describe what it looks like to be “imitators of God” (v. 1). He begins by simply saying, “…walk in love” (v. 2). He clarifies that by citing the example of the life of Jesus as He “gave himself up for us” (v. 2).

 

Mary and I have been known to talk some of the “quiet walkways” in the Smoky Mountains. The picture I’ve included today is one of those moments as we walked a bit down the trail and saw a place where we could “sit a spell.” Mary seemed to be in the perfect spot to snap a photo with the trail in the background. While the trail was not well marked, it was well worn with the countless footsteps of others who had taken the same path. As is often the case, there weren’t many people who were traveling this path at the time we were, so, that made it quiet and peaceful. There were the sounds of the birds and the breeze rustling through the trees, but the world seemed to be far away.

 

When I think of walking the way Jesus walked, it is much more about “being” instead of “doing,” though there is plenty to do along the way. While Jesus’ life was purposeful and intentional, He always found a way to hear the voice of His Father. That really is the first practical step in being imitators of God. We must hear what He is saying to us. Stand where He tells us to stand; look where He instructs us to look; and be ready at all times. Just as my Dad instructed me on that first rabbit hunt (see yesterday’s devotional). That means we must surrender our belief that we are right. It means we must trust that Our Father in Heaven holds that position. The proof of that being that Jesus has already successfully navigated life. He blazed the trail so that countless others might travel it making it unmistakable to miss if we simply look.

 

Take a little walk along that path… you won’t be disappointed in the results!