Learning to Walk

One of the great joys of my life is our grand-daughter. I found it so exciting and satisfying when she took her first step and started to walk. She was no longer content to just sit and think about walking or to simply crawl on her hands and knees. She wanted to get up and go. But having the desire to walk doesn't mean you can do it automatically. And being able to walk doesn't mean you will always do it correctly. You can easily fall and hurt yourself as our grand-daughter often did. As a "beginning walker" a little one must rely on a parent or another grown-up to help them.

a) Walking in the Truth - In John's third letter he echoes the sentiments of God-the-Father when he says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth." The apostle had been informed by others that a certain group of believers were successfully walking in the truth of Jesus.

b) Walking in someones footsteps - John goes on to say, "Do not imitate what is evil, but what is good" He was suggesting that Gaius walk in the footsteps of Demetrius and not follow Diotrephes who was making false charges against John and pushing those, who didn't agreed with him, out of the church. Children can only learn to walk correctly and safely if they have a good example to follow.

c) Walking like a Deer - Habakkuk says in Chapter 3, "The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet and He will make me walk on my high hills. With a good example and proper guidance children can become sure-footed and capable, able to run and leap to their full potential like a deer climbing the high hills. God is our example, our guide, and our strength.

d) Walking like a Servant - In Luke, Chapter 22 a dispute arises among Jesus' disciples as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus tells them that greatest among them will walk like a servant. Jesus as God-the-Son, who is greater than all, walked among us as one who serves. Do our lives embody His servanthood? Our example is the best way to teach our children how to walk. Can they see us walking the walk, not just talking the talk?

e) Walking back to Jesus - Later in Chapter 22, Peter is told that he will deny knowing Jesus three times. But Jesus tells him, with forgiveness in his words, that when Peter turns from that denial and walks back to Him that he is to strengthen his brothers. Whenever we deny God by walking down a wrong path we must turn in repentence and walk back to seek His forgiveness and the forgiveness of anyone we have hurt or offended. The best way to teach our children, this way of walking, is to humbly ask their forgiveness when we have not acted as parents should. One of the most important things I have ever said to my children is, "I'm sorry! Will you please forgive me?"