What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? As believers we have the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the Comforter who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit assists believers in prayer (Jude 1:20) and “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27). He also leads the believer into righteousness (Galatians 5:16–18) and produces His fruit in those yielded to Him (Galatians 5:22–23). Believers are to submit to the will of God and walk in the Spirit.
A “walk” in the Bible is often a metaphor for practical daily living. The Christian life is a journey, and we are to walk it—we are to make consistent forward progress. The biblical norm for all believers is that they walk in the Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, Romans 8:14). In other words, the Spirit gave us life in the new birth (John 3:6), and we must continue to live, day by day, in the Spirit.
To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to the Spirit's control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30).
The apostle Paul believed that ‘life in the Spirit’ is best compared to the concept of “walking.” In the eighth chapter, if we read from the fourth verse Paul writes, “The law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death…. through God’s sacrifice of His Son on the cross as an offering for sin… in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:2-4)
The Old Testament tells us that “Enoch walked with God” (Genesis 5:24) … “Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9) … God told Abraham, “Walk blameless before Me” (Genesis 17:1) … The Lord told Israel that He would establish them as a holy people to Himself “if they would walk in His ways (Deuteronomy 28:9)… the psalmist David said, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in Thy truth” (Psalm 86:11)… likewise the psalmist writes, “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1)… God told Solomon, “Walk in My ways… as your father David walked” (1 Kings 3:14)… The Lord told His people, “Where the good way is, walk in it, and you shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16) … the Lord prophesied to His people, “I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27).
As I reflect upon these verses, I am reminded of the word of the Lord to the prophet Amos: “Do two men walk together unless they are one?” (Amos 3:3). And then there is the word of the Lord to the prophet Micah: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Walking was the apostle Paul’s favorite metaphor for the Christian life — perhaps it was because he did a lot of walking in his life; it has been estimated that he traveled some 12,000 miles during his various missionary journeys (most of which were on foot).
Paul uses the word “walk” thirty-two times in his letters — “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1) … “walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2) … “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8) … “walk by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7) … “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 25) … “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10). So life as a Christian is “cooperating” with the Holy Spirit in a daily walk. As believers, we are now no longer obligated to live according to the flesh, but free to live according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:2-4
PRAYER
Today I choose to walk in the spirit. I choose to continue to live day by day in the spirit. I choose to yield to the Spirit's control, leading and influence. Lord teach me not to resist or grieve the Holy Spirit today in Jesus name, Amen.