For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Walking In Ephesians

John Wayne had one of the most iconic walks in movie history. No matter what role he played, his cowboy swagger was identifiable immediately. Everyone is known by the way they walk in the world. This can be explained as their influence, example, pattern, or character to be known for a trait that identifies them. Some people are known as being cranky because they are always fussy and ill-tempered. A woman can be perceived as a flirt or a man a conceited bore who worships himself. Others are known as honorable people because of their truthfulness. Happy people are easily identified with dispositions of laughter. The world is filled with millions of personalities defined by how they walk in life. A person’s gait can define them not only in a physical way but also in how they walk before the Lord.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church was a message of walking before the Lord. He reminds the saints that they are the workmanship of Jesus Christ, who created them for good works. Living in Ephesus as a Christian was a difficult life because of the idolatry and paganism that filled society. Paul wanted the Christians to remember that their example before others was paramount to showing the world the light of Jesus. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus would make them different than the world around them.

In the face of a hostile world, Christians must walk worthy of the calling with which they were called. Jesus redeemed the Christian from God’s wrath, and the saved must show their love for God by walking as the redeemed. Paul was in prison when he wrote his letter to Ephesus. This should admonish the saints to consider his example of walking in a manner worthy of Christ as a prisoner. He did not revile or curse his captors. Paul’s example was one of faith, whether in prison or not. Some were put in prison and sought revenge with ungodliness. The heart of the Gentile was to act like the world and try to get even with those who troubled them. Paul reminds Christians that their walk in the Lord differs from those who walk in the futility of the mind.

To walk in Christ is to walk in love. The life of the Christian is motivated by the love of Christ. When Christians leave an example in their community, they are known as people of love because they walk in love. Their walk has no harshness, cursing, murmuring, complaining, or ungodly speech. When people see the Christian’s walk of life, they realize a life changed by the One who gave Himself up for them as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. The Christian walk has an aroma to it. It reflects the scent of godliness.

The world walks in darkness, but the Christians walk in the light. Those who walk in darkness cannot see where they are going. They live without hope, full of despair in a world that is not kind to them. For Christians, the light is the only place to walk because they can see clearly everything God reveals to them. Walking as children of light means carrying the light of Christ in their lives and illuminating their community with the grace of God. Those in darkness will always see a light because they stand in contrast to the darkness. Walking in the light means abiding by the doctrines of Christ as the measure of their life path.

Finally, Paul wants the saints to walk with a careful (circumspect) mind about them. Walking requires an awareness of the surroundings. If a man chooses to walk without concern for how he is and where he is walking, he will always find trouble. Walking circumspectly is to walk with a careful spirit. In the Christian life, walking with an awareness of God and His Son in the Holy Spirit will help to keep one from the evil one. Satan is a force to be reckoned with and never taken lightly. Without careful steps, the devil will cause one to follow the wrong path. Being mindful of each step will guard the heart and help it follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The real question is, what does God see in my walk of life? Secondarily, what does the world see? Everyone has a walk of life, and impressions are left to our character and heart with each walk. God wants to see His children walking in the light as people redeemed by the blood of His Son. It is impossible to walk in the light and walk in darkness. If you are walking and it is dark where you are, you are in the wrong place. Walk in the light. That is the way God wants His children to walk. Walk in the workmanship of God, worthy of the calling to which you were called, and stop walking like those in the world. The Christian walks in love, walks as children of light, and walks with wisdom. How are you walking?