W.D.J.W.
Posted on December 1, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters
“For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God Forever and ever.” — Micah 4:5 (NKJV)
There was a report that was put by the European Society of Cardiology a few years back that has claimed that daily walking would trigger an anti-aging process and help repair old DNA. I am not exactly sure how true that is, because I claim to walk anywhere from 7-10 miles a day on the grounds of where I work and by the end of the day my knees are pleading for mercy. The report also says that walking is better than sitting. Apparently sitting for more than 8 hours a day is associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Once again, I am not too sure how true that is, but I ain’t no doctor so what do I know? Anyway…
I’m sure you’ve looked at todays title and have wondered what I am trying to convey to you. Well, we have the famous W.W.J.D (what would Jesus do) but mine is simple, why did Jesus walk? Now, just to get the smarty pants outta me, I will go to say that it wasn’t like Jesus could hail a cab as if He was in N.Y.C. On the contrary, walking was the everyday way to get around back in those early B.C/A.D. days. Yeah, of course they had the horse and chariot/wagon but that’s a topic for another time. Besides, when we look at Scripture, the only time Jesus didn’t walk into or to a place was during the Triumphal Entry and that was on a donkey per Scripture being fulfilled. Anyway…
If we were to do a study into what is said about walking in Scripture, you could find an endless trail of possibilities on the benefits of walking with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But I think the most intimate walk with Jesus comes to us in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 24:13-35. “And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32). That road was the one going from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Now if we were to do the math, the average time to walk a mile is about 15 minutes, multiply that by the distance from Jerusalem to Emmaus, which was about 7 miles and we get there in under an hour in a half. Just enough time to take a crash course on an Old Testament survey.
We can also find a very daring walk that was taken. In Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 14:22-33, he says “And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid’” (Matthew 14:26-27). Even though we see this as a test of Peter’s faith, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water,” we really need to see this as a prime reason we all need to look to Jesus when the storms of life rage upon us. Even if we take that step of faith and begin to walk towards Jesus our focus needs to remain there but isn’t reassuring that if we do start to sink into the turbulent waters the hand of Jesus is at the ready.
So, why did Jesus walk? For me, the answer is quite simple, it is to let us know that He is willing to come to us and bring us His comfort and compassion…and maybe we ought to follow the example. So many Pastors, Elders, and church Deacons will say to their congregations, “If you need prayer, come up front” and that’s fine. We are called to present ourselves on the altar and it needs to be done from time to time, however, how many of us who have been given the title of pastor, elder, or deacon have said to our congregations, “We will be walking the aisles, if you need prayer, please reach out and grab one of us?” This may be a radical idea but I kinda thought we served a radical Savior who wanted us to know that the One who is called Elohim, The Creator, is there to reach out and save us from the mess we got ourselves into. It is in this that we will find that walking has its benefits. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.
The Daily Bible Reading: Malachi| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “Those who walk with God, always reach their destinations.” — Henry Ford
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2
Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
