Walking Lessons

When you set off on a hike what gear do you grab? Walking stick? Hat? Water bottle?

How about a yoke? Nope! Yet when Jesus outfits people for the trek of life, He offers them a yoke. What was He thinking? What good can this old farm device do us?

People often compare life to walking and their progress to a long journey. We also link walking to integrity: “Those who talk the talk need to walk the walk.” However, every person on earth has difficulty walking with consistent honesty and selflessness. Consider how the Apostle Paul addresses this issue in Eph. 2:1-10:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,…  We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts….

(Eph. 2:1-3 HCSB, emphasis added)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

(Eph. 2:10 NASB, emphasis added)

Note the stark contrast between these verses. Before God’s gracious act of adopting us as His forgiven children, we all walked in rebellion under the influence of our sinful nature, marching to the drumbeat of the unbelieving world and Satan. Our destination? Death, judgment and punishment.

After our adoption, our trajectory changes radically. Now we can walk in good works, following the paths of righteousness that God charted out for us long ago. Our destination? To walk the length and breadth of the will of God.

Walking Masterpieces

How does this transformation occur? God does it! “Even though we were dead in our sins God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, gave us life together with Christ—it is, remember, by grace and not by achievement that you are saved” (Eph. 2:4-5 Phillips).

Made alive again, God “creates us in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10) and enables us to grow in the Fruitfulness of good deeds, thoughts, and words. The transformation is so grand that Paul calls us “God’s workmanship.” The Greek word translated as “workmanship” is poiēma, meaning creation, work, or action. Poiēma is the root of the English words poem and poetry. Therefore, it carries a connotation of artistry, of exquisite, precise craftsmanship. Through our relationship in Christ, “we are God’s masterpiece” (Eph. 2:10 NLT). Thank You, LORD God!

The Greek word poiēma occurs in only one other Bible verse,

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.

Romans 1:20

God’s physical creations, from atoms to galaxies, declare His very existence and nature. And we, as God’s new creations — His masterpieces — can proclaim the existence and nature of God through the Fruitfulness of good works which He enables do in Christ Jesus.

How does this actually occur?

The Yoke’s on Me

Many Bible verses compare being in Relationship with God to the step by step action of walking. Consider this compelling invitation from Jesus to walk with Him daily.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

(Matt. 11:28-30)

Jesus promises that this old farm device will build your Relationship with Him.

A yoke is a double collar which allows two animals to share the effort of pulling a wagon or plow. In fact, two draft animals working in yoke together accomplish much more than two animals working separately. In addition, when a mature animal and a young one share a yoke, the experienced animal pulls more weight and trains the new animal how to do the work. That’s what Jesus does for you when you take His yoke upon you and walk with Him.

Without Jesus your burdens will remain heavy. Rest and light-heartedness will escape you, because you cannot walk in integrity without Jesus. But with Jesus, your walk can be restful, light-hearted, and fruitful. Even though you won’t always walk with Jesus perfectly, yoked together with Him, you will reach new levels of integrity and bring blessings to many others along your path.

Chatter on the Path

Is walking in yoke with Jesus a silent exercise? No way! It is reason for constant, two-way Conversation. When you walk with a friend, you chat together. Would it feel right, if your walking partner never responded to your comments? Despite occasional lapses of conversation, one or the other walker is sure to renew the dialogue. Talking is even more likely when walking with Jesus Christ, whose seven-mile conversation with two friends, caused their hearts to burn within them (Luke 24:32). As we walk in the path of the Fruitfulness for which God created us in Christ, we dialog with the Lord about our course and the next steps before us (Ps. 32:8).

To help you walk and talk with Him here’s a prayer exercise that’s also physical exercise. You don’t have to do all the points each time.

1. Go for a walk or even a long hike.
2. Start with prayer, asking God to speak to your heart as you walk. Then keep on listening.
3. Ponder Matthew 11:28-30 and picture being in a yoke with Jesus. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
4. Think about places where you walk on a daily basis and imagine Jesus always there at your side.
5. Recite: “Enoch walked faithfully with God. Noah walked faithfully with God. Abraham walked faithfully with God. Isaac walked faithfully with God. Jacob walked faithfully with God. I am walking faithfully with God.” (Gen. 5:22, 24; 6:9; 17:1; 24:40; & 48:15)
6. Focus on your legs. Rather than chanting “left, right, left, right,” say: “trust, obey, trust, obey.” As you do, visualize situations you face which require faithful walking with God.
7. Focus on your breathing. As you inhale and exhale, think about prayer, praise, petitions, and thanksgiving. Speak aloud whatever the Holy Spirit moves you to express to God.

Try this once. Try it again. Add any other activities and words the Lord suggests to you as you are walking. It could become a regular exercise for body and soul.