Learning how to walk

I love to move around on foot. Therefore, I cherish walking instead of driving a car. When I add some running, the benefit is that I keep fit. The principles are the same in God’s Kingdom.

The three first chapters in Paul’s letter to Ephesians are very much focused on my status or position in Christ. Paul wanted to make sure that his readers know their position. When I know where I “sit”, I am ready to raise and start walking:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…
Eph 4:1

The word Paul uses in Greek literally means ‘walking’. However, it is also possible to use ‘living’, which many translations of the Bible prefer in the verse above.

There are a lot of similarities between ‘living’ and ‘walking’. I live because I am alive. I don’t have to tell my heart to beat or my lungs to draw the breath – it is all part of being alive. Likewise, when I have learned to walk, I do not need to think about how I stand up and start to move my legs to get the correct movement to reach my destination. I only need to know where I am going, simply because the ‘art of walking’ is an integrated part of my life.

When Paul beseech me to walk and live worthy of the calling with which I was called, he continues to outline what he sees this to be. When you read it (1), you will discover that he makes a list of the attributes of Jesus. It is all about walking like Jesus in the world today. That is the normal Christian life (2). It is impossible without him, yet he will not do it without us. When we start walking in this way, it becomes an integral part of us – we do it without thinking about it, or even knowing about it (3). We will look at several of these attributes of walking in the weeks to come.

‘Manna’ for today:

Learning how to walk – like Christ

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(1) Eph 4:1-16

(2) “The Normal Christian Life” is another book of Watchman Nee – the author of “Sit, Walk, Stand”. Nee’s books have meant a lot for me on my personal spiritual journey. 

(3) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? …” Matthew 25:37-40

‘…without us God will not’

The headline is the last part of St. Augustine’s famous saying:

‘Without God we cannot, but without us God will not!’

There is substantial Biblical support for the first part of the quote. In the parable of the vine Jesus focused on the importance of bearing fruit and stated:

apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5b

There is no doubt that God can without us. When the Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke the disciples who praised him when he entered Jerusalem on Palm-Sunday, Jesus answered:

“Listen—if they were silent, the very rocks would start to shout!”
Luke 19:40

However, Augustine was right, God wants to work in us and through us (1). Many years back I listen to a devotion by Bill Himes on the proclamation “No rock is going to cry in my place!” – a man who has dedicated all his talents and all that he is to God, has credibility when he makes a statement like that (2). William Booth had the same conviction and dedication, that is why he could say: “I am a move of God!”.

When I think about “a move of God”, a chess-board is the first image that pops up in my mind. During my first year at the Training College in 1974, the second year Cadets of the Soldiers of the Cross session prepared a drama for their commissioning in Royal Albert Hall. The drama followed the music of the piece "The Holy War" (3) played by The International Staff Band, while the cadets acted a game of chess symbolising the fight between good and evil. 

The performance was powerful. However, the spiritual war is not a performance, it is real. Without God we cannot, without us God will not. We are a move of God in the world in our time, and that means war with the weapons of love. The terrible beauty of the cross, is its testimony about love conquering evil. That testimony is still the content of God's moving in and through his followers 2000 later.

‘Manna’ for today:

A move of God, will always be a move of love.

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(1) See: The revolutionary third move
(2) Bill Himes is a composer and song-writer. His song “All that I am” is sung all over the world.
(3) Brass-enthusiasts will know this beautiful and demanding piece of Ray Steadman Allen written for the Salvation Army’s Centenary Celebration in 1965.

“I am a move of God!”

Last week God blessed us richly during the Officers’ Development Conference in Eastern Europe. The last time all officers in the territory took part in this kind of event was in 2013, so it was great to have an opportunity to meet in this way. Anointed by The holy spirit, our guests, Commissioners Heidi and Brad Bailey, shared from their knowledge, experience and hearts in a way that moved us all. The theme for the conference was related to our focus on momentum, and in one of the sessions Commissioner Brad shared this quote from William Booth:

“I am not waiting for a move of God; I am a move of God!”

A vital part of the DNA of a disciple of Jesus is captured in this statement. God is the impulse, and a disciple moves on that impulse and becomes ‘a move of God’!

Paul was very clear that his identity is in Christ, but also focused on the fact that Christ lived in him:

… it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Gal 2:20

During the conference last week, we used the song “We are Jesus in our time!” (1), which I wrote in 2014 together with Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek (2). The text tries to capture the mystery that you and I are his body in the world today and the radical conclusion is that we therefore become ‘Jesus’ in our time right where we are.

On the day of Pentecost God moved in such a way that I do not need to wait for another move. When we have received The holy spirit, he lives in us and we can all say:

‘Manna’ for today:

I am a move of God!

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(1) Jesus in our time

When Jesus comes to town and passes down my local street, 
Will my neighbours even notice the event?
Yet there's an awesome mystery that all believers meet:
It is me, it is me he has sent!

Our Master has a strategy,quite radical, by far:We are 'Jesus' (3x) In our time, Where we are.

When Jesus takes the risk of using me and you today,
I can hardly understand it, but he dares!
Thank God, he's also promised he will guide us on our way,
So I know, so I know that he cares.

When Jesus asks me to reveal his love for all to see,
Will my answer be reliable and true?
'When I walk through your town' he asks 'wherever you may be,
Will they see, will they see me in you?'

(2) Link to the sheet music