Walking In Sonshine Walking In Sonshine Walking In Sonshine

• As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:.... - Colossians 2:6

So the Bible tells me as a Christian I am to "walk...in Him." I hear I am to live for Him but just how do I do that?

Rather than me giving an answer, let's see if the Bible has one. Surely, if we are commanded as such God would not leave that up to our own interpretation. Obviously, that would lead to all sorts of confusing ideas and doctrines on how we are to practice our faith. This would not be the case because we do know that God is not the author of confusion. (I Corinthians 14:33)

First, let's look to see if Paul speaks to this in this letter to the Colossians since it is there the instructions are given by him. Just one chapter over we find these words: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:17)  There you have it!

But Paul takes this one step further; he says that isn't quite enough. Those things are done publicly. What about privately? Something still is missing. Not only is our speech and our deeds to be done in the name of the Lord, but he says all our most private thoughts are to occur in the name of the Lord: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;". (II Corinthians 10:5)  This was Eve's failure in the Garden. Her thoughts in her temptation failed to be in obedience to God. She questioned His knowledge. She believed Satan's lie! It is here the battle is fought and won--in the mind, allowing the mind of the old man to supersede the mind and authority of Christ.

As expected, given these as examples, we do find many places, all in concert, defining our life in Christ as it is revealed by our "walk in Him." So, we can say, even though we can delve much deeper into this discussion, the answer to our main question can be put very simply:

1. All that I speak, I speak in the name of the Lord.
2. All that I do, I do in the name of the Lord
3. All that I think, I give thought in the name of the Lord.

Paul even goes on to tell us what spirit we are to have about us as we live or walk in Him: "...giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:17)

As we so easily can see, this pretty much covers all our human activity. Is this no more or no less than praying as Jesus instructed: "...Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

1. All that we speak.
2. All that we do.
3. All that we think.

All our speech, all our deeds, and, all our thoughts. This was the life of Christ and His relationship with His Father. As He so often said, He came not to do His will but the Father who sent Him. (John 14:24)

Let's think about this for a minute. Consider the first, our speech.

Christ says that which is not in Him, when a word is spoken, it defileth the person. "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth him." (Matthew 15:11)

James adds, that defiles the whole body, inflaming the base nature of the person, causing him to burn. "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." - (James 3:6) 

One final reference that speaks to the spirit in which we speak: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." - (I Corinthians 13:1)

Turning to our deeds, Paul has given us our instructions in our key verse: "...do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...". (Colossians 3:17)  Consider just these few additional passages in your study:

1. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: - Philippians 2:14
2. Do all things to the glory of God. - I Corinthians 10:31
3. Do all things for the edification of others. - II Corinthians 12:19
4. Do all things in His strength. - Philippians 4:13, II Corinthians 12:9

Considering our most private thoughts, we find these passages instructive:

1. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: - Philippians 2:5
2. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? - Matthew 9:4
3. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: - Matthew 15:19
4. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, - Mark 7:21
5. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. - Luke 2:35
6. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12
7. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. - Romans 12:3
8. And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. - I Corinthians 4:6
9. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; - II Corinthians 3:5
10. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. - Galatians 6:3
11. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. - Philippians 4:8

Finally, I leave you with this admonition from Paul's pen: "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." - (Ephesians 5:15-16)