Truths for Young Christians: Walking, Part 3

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 10
WALKING
The Threefold Sphere of Love
Love is the second great characteristic of God, and therefore of the Christian’s walk. We are exhorted to walk in love. Love to God, to our fellow-believers, to our fellowmen. Love to God shows itself in obedience. Obedience, to be worth anything, is the offspring of love. Thus alone Christ obeyed, and to His obedience are we set apart (1 Peter 1:2-42Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:2‑4)). Turning instinctively to God for direction in every event of life, waiting till we get it, and then following it. Such is the path of Psalm 32, and that of the obedient child; a path of security, of happiness, of freedom from care or anxiety though not from watchfulness. “Obedience,” too, “is better than sacrifice,” and it springs from “hearkening, which is better than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:2222And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)). It may not bring us much praise or credit, but it always pleases God, and even when we are “slow of understanding,” if the desire is to obey, the Lord will guide. This, then, is the proof of love to God, and a special blessing is reserved for those who thus walk (John 14:2323Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)). Love to our brethren is mostly shown in washing one another’s feet, this is the most delicate proof of real love that can be given, and the rarest (John 13). Love can be shown in the cup of cold water, in the offering of a sweet-smelling savor (Phil. 4:1818But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)), in caring for bodily or spiritual needs. The heart that is at leisure from itself, to soothe and sympathize, will readily discover the appropriate way of showing love. Love to the world at large is most shown in pointing them to Christ. Caring for the suffering and the poor is an essentially Christian duty, but care for the soul comes first, though it may not always be made the most prominent.
Such, then, is a brief and imperfect sketch of the Christian walk, all perfectly summed up in the three words, “as He walked.” This is the best direction of all “as He walked” in righteousness (Isa. 53:1111He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)), goodness (Matt. 19:1616And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16)), truth (John 7:1818He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (John 7:18)), guiltlessness (Matt. 27:44Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. (Matthew 27:4)), lowliness (Matt. 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)), patience (Matt. 27:1414And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. (Matthew 27:14)), self-denial (Matt. 8:2020And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20)), humility (Luke 22:2727For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luke 22:27)), obedience (John 4:3434Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:34)), compassion (Luke 19:4141And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, (Luke 19:41)) benevolence (Matt. 4:23,2423And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. (Matthew 4:23‑24)), and love (John 13:11Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1)).
May the Lord exercise our hearts to a more godly, truthful, and lowly walk in view of the nearness of His return.