Walking in the Name of Jesus
11/29 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Peter 1; Micah 4; Luke 13
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
11/29 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Peter 1; Micah 4; Luke 13
Micah 4:5
…and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
WALK
Most of us readily recognize how the word “walk” in the Hebrew Scriptures is often used figuratively of the Christian believer’s lifestyle and conduct before God. We’ve encountered its use in this way as far back as God Almighty’s word to Abram, when He said to the sojourner,
“I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless,” Genesis 17:1
“Walk” is translated from the Hebrew word הָלַךְ (ha-LAKH), which does mean to literally “walk.” We find this word is translated “flow” (Gen 2:14), as a river would. This suggests that our behavior before God, like a river, must be sourced from Christ, our Head, and our conduct should provide refreshment to others, as well as cause things to grow. This Hebrew word is also translated “go” or “going” (Gen 12:9), indicating that our Christian conduct takes us on a journey in obedience because of the commands from God. Therefore, our Christian behavior is not idle or passive, but full of activity that pleases the Lord because we are exercising faith in God through Christ (Heb 11:6). This Hebrew word can also be translated “gone,” like a shadow at evening (Psa 109:21), helping us understand that our Christian behavior and conduct before God is not used to lift us up, but that rather so we may decrease so Christ may increase (John 3:30). There are surely other things we may glean from this blessed word from God’s Word, but here is one final thought from our verse today: when we walk in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is an eternal walk. Though we may not be there yet because we are currently sojourners of this mortal coil, our Lord Jesus has healed us so we may walk upright, no longer bent over like the poor woman suffering 18 years from an ailment, but straightened by the love, grace, and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. We walk (behave), not in our own name, but in His, and He has saved us to do so. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
I was a crippled man before Christ came,
My soul was dead, my life was bent;
But in His pow’r, He heals the lame,
We thank our God that Christ was sent.