How Is Your Walk?

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Ephesians 2:1-3

When I was in college, I had some Christian friends who liked to ask me a peculiar question: "How is your walk?" When I first heard this, I quickly figured out that it was "Christianese" for: "How is your relationship with God? Are you actually living as a Christian each day?" I never really became comfortable with the "How is your walk?" question, however. In fact, until entitling this reflection, I have never asked anyone "How is your walk?" Now I've posed this question to the more than 20,000 people who subscribe to the Daily Reflections. Yikes!

In fact, the language of walking as a metaphor for the Christian life comes straight from the New Testament. Later in Ephesians, for example, we'll come upon a verse that could be translated literally, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" (4:1). Today's passage uses the metaphor of walking to depict our living death apart from God. The NIV reads, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live…" (2:1-2a). The Greek could be rendered, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to walk."

By using the verb "to walk" (peripateo in Greek), Paul refers to a pattern of life, what we might call a lifestyle. Before God delivered us, we were not merely dabbling in sin. Rather, we were walking in it consistently, knee deep in the muck of rebellion against God.

As we'll see later in this chapter, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, thus receiving God's grace through him, not only are we forgiven for our sins, but also we are welcomed into a new way of living. Our salvation is not simply a ticket to heaven in the future. It is also a passport to a new "walk" in this life.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: How would you answer the question, "How is your walk?" What helps you to live out your faith each day in the challenges and opportunities of work, school, church, friendship, family, community, and citizenship?

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank you for delivering me from walking in my transgressions and sins. Thank you for opening up to me a new way of walking.

May my walk be genuine and vital. May I keep away from patterns of sin and selfishness. May I walk with you, in your strength, and for your glory. Amen.